[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18016]
[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. LATHAM:
       H.R. 6690.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
     States.
           By Mr. SCOTT of Virginia:
       H.R. 6691.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 1 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution
       Clause 18 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution
           By Mr. CLARKE of Michigan:
       H.R. 6692.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 and Article I, Section 9, 
     Clause 7 of the United States Constitution
           By Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia:
       H.R. 6693.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Section 8 of Article I of the Unites States Constitution
           By Mr. FINCHER:
       H.R. 6694.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8.
           By Mr. GARRETT:
       H.R. 6695.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clauses 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''), 
     3 (``To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the 
     several States, and with the Indian Tribes''), and 18 (``To 
     make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for 
     carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other 
     Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the 
     United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof'').
           By Mr. GOSAR:
       H.R. 6696.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Pursuant to clause 7 of Rule XII of the Rules of the House 
     of Representatives, the following statement is submitted 
     regarding the specific powers granted to Congress in the 
     Constitution to enact the accompanying bill or joint 
     resolution. This bill pertains to the federal Indian trust 
     relationship. Accordingly, Congress has the power to enact 
     this legislation pursuant to Article I, Section 8, Clause 3:
       ``The Congress shall have the power to . . . regulate 
     commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, 
     and with the Indian tribes;''
       Additionally, since this bill directs the Secretary of 
     Interior to take lands into trust for the benefit of an 
     Indian tribe, meaning the federal government would hold title 
     to the land in trust on behalf of the tribe, it is important 
     to note that Congress has the express constitutional 
     authority to manage and convey federal lands, pursuant to 
     Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2:
       ``The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all 
     needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or 
     other Property belonging to the United States.''
           By Mr. KUCINICH:
       H.R. 6697.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause III and/or Article 1, Section 
     8, Clause IIXX of the Constitution.
           By Mr. SMITH of New Jersey:
       H.R. 6698.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
       To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the 
     several States, and with the Indian Tribes.
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18
       To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for 
     carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other 
     powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the 
     United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
           By Mr. TURNER of Ohio:
       H.R. 6699.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution: The 
     Congress shall have Power . . . To regulate Commerce with 
     foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the 
     Indian Tribes.
           By Mr. WELCH:
       H.R. 6700.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18: The Congress shall have 
     Power To . . . make all Laws which shall be necessary and 
     proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and 
     all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the 
     Government of the United States, or in any Department or 
     Officer thereof . . .
           By Mr. YOUNG of Alaska:
       H.R. 6701.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 14
       To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land 
     and naval Forces.
       Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2
       The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all 
     needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or 
     other Property belonging to the United States, and nothing in 
     this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any 
     Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.
           By Mr. YOUNG of Florida:
       H.R. 6702.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution.

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