[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6130-6132]
[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. LUCAS:
       H.R. 1764.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States 
     Constitution. This bill places a temporary prohibition on 
     covered agencies from purchasing ammunition. The purpose of 
     the prohibition is to determine the effect government 
     purchases have on the price of ammunition, an instrument of 
     interstate commerce.
           By Mr. LATHAM:
        H.R. 1765.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The principal constitutional authority for this legislation 
     is clause 7 of section 9 of article I of the Constitution of 
     the United States (the appropriation power), which states: 
     ``No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in 
     Consequence of Appropriations made by Law . . .'' In 
     addition, clause 1 of section 8 of article I of the 
     Constitution (the spending power) provides: ``The Congress 
     shall have the Power . . . to pay the Debts and provide for 
     the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States
     . . . .'' Together, these specific constitutional provisions 
     establish the congressional power of the purse, granting 
     Congress the authority to appropriate funds, to determine 
     their purpose, amount, and period of availability, and to set 
     forth terms and conditions governing their use.
           By Ms. WATERS:
       H.R. 1766.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution,
       Article 1, Section 8, clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, 
     and
       Article 1, Section 9, clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution.
           By Ms. WATERS:
       H.R. 1767.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (the Commerce Clause).
           By Mr. ROYCE:
       H.R. 1768.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution
           By Mr. RICHMOND:
       H.R. 1769.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is introduced pursuant to the powers granted to 
     Congress under the General Welfare Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 
     1), the Commerce Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 3), and the 
     Necessary and Proper Clause (Art. 1 Sec. 8 Cl. 18).
       Further, this statement of constitutional authority is made 
     for the sole purpose of compliance with clause 7 of Rule XII 
     of the Rules of the House of Representatives and shall have 
     no bearing on judicial review of the accompanying bill.
           By Mr. CHAFFETZ:
       H.R. 1770.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 14 of Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution: To 
     make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and 
     naval Forces
           By Mr. ROYCE:
       H.R. 1771.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution
           By Mr. SMITH of Texas:
       H.R. 1772.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 of the United States 
     Constitution enumerating congressional authority ``[t]o 
     establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization.''
           By Mr. GOODLATTE:
       H.R. 1773.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, section 8, clause 4 of the Constitution provides 
     that Congress shall have power to ``establish an uniform Rule 
     of Naturalization.'' The Supreme Court has long found that 
     this provision of the Constitution grants Congress plenary 
     power over immigration policy. As the Court found in Galvan 
     v. Press, 347 U.S. 522, 531 (1954), ``that the formulation of 
     policies [pertaining to the entry of aliens and the right to 
     remain here] is entrusted to Congress has become about as 
     firmly imbedded in the legislative and judicial tissues of 
     our body politic as any aspect of our government.''
           By Mr. DOGGETT:
       H.R. 1774.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution that 
     grants Congress the authority, ``To regulate Commerce with 
     foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the 
     Indian Tribes.''
           By Mr. FITZPATRICK:
       H.R. 1775.
       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. FARR:
       H.R. 1776.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, section 7.
           By Mr. SMITH of New Jersey:
       H.R. 1777.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution
           By Mr. SMITH of New Jersey:
       H.R. 1778.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       article 1, section 8 of the Constitution
           By Mr. FINCHER:
       H.R. 1779.

[[Page 6131]]

       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8.
           By Mr. CAMP:
       H.R. 1780.
       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 make rules for the government as 
     enumerated in Article 1 Section 8, Clause 14 of the United 
     States Constitution.
           By Mr. McCAUL:
       H.R. 1781.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 4.
           By Mr. RIGELL:
       H.R. 1782.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution: 
     ``The Congress shall have the 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. LATHAM:
       H.R. 1783.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 1; and Article I, Section 8 of the 
     United States Constitution
           By Mr. PETERS of Michigan:
       H.R. 1784.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
        Article 1, 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. REICHERT:
       H.R. 1785.
       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 1, section 8 of the United 
     States Constitution, specifically clause 1 (relating to 
     providing for the general welfare of the United States) and 
     clause 18 (relating to the Power to make all laws necessary 
     and proper' for carrying out the powers vested in Congress), 
     and Article IV, section 3, clause 2 (relating to the power of 
     Congress to dispose of and make all needful rules and 
     regulations respecting the territory or other property 
     belonging to the United States).''
           By Mr. NEUGEBAUER:
       H.R. 1786.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1.
       The Congress shall have Power To . . . provide for the 
     common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.
       Article I, 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 the 
     Constitution in the Government of the United States or in any 
     Department or Officer thereof.
           By Mr. REED:
       H.R. 1787.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8; The Congress shall provide for the 
     common Defense and General Welfare of the United States
           By Mrs. BACHMANN:
       H.R. 1788.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This legislation makes specific changes to existing law in 
     a manner that allows the States and the People to reclaim 
     certain powers from current Federal government control, in 
     accordance with Amendment X to the United States 
     Constitution. Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United 
     States Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate 
     commerce, such as that considered by this legislation. 
     Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the United States 
     Constitution grants the president the power to make treaties, 
     such as those that must be adhered to under this Act. Article 
     I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution 
     grants Congress the power to ``make all Laws which shall be 
     necessary and proper for carrying into Execution'' the powers 
     granted to them under Article I, Section 8 and those granted 
     to the president under Article II, Section 2.
           By Mr. BARR:
       H.R. 1789.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The ability to regulate interstate commerce pursuant to 
     Article I, Section 8, Clause 3.
           By Ms. BASS:
       H.R. 1790.
       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 1.
       All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a 
     Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a 
     Senate and House of Representatives.
           By Mr. BILIRAKIS:
       H.R. 1791.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to Article I, Section 8, 
     Clause 1 of the Constitution of the United States, which 
     grants Congress the power to provide for the common Defense 
     of the United States, and Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of 
     the Constitution of the United States, which provides 
     Congress the power to make ``all Laws which shall be 
     necessary and proper'' for carrying out the constitutional 
     powers vested in the Government of the United States.
           By Mr. COFFMAN:
       H.R. 1792.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
     States.
           By Mr. CONNOLLY:
       H.R. 1793.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is introduced pursuant to the authority 
     delineated in Article I section I, which includes an implied 
     power for the Congress to regulate the conduct of the United 
     States with respect to foreign affairs.
           By Mr. CROWLEY:
       H.R. 1794.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution
           By Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois:
       H.R. 1795.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, giving Congress the 
     authority to control the expenditures of the federal 
     government
           By Ms. DUCKWORTH:
       H.R. 1796.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       General Welfare Clause (Art. 1 sec. 8 cl. 1)
       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. FRANKS of Arizona:
       H.R. 1797.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, clause 17: ``The Congress shall have 
     Power . . . to exercise exclusive legislation in all Cases 
     whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles 
     square) as may, by cession of the particular states, and the 
     Acceptance of Congress, become the seat of government of the 
     United States.
           By Mr. GOSAR:
       H.R. 1798.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This legislation is being introduced in order to amend 
     ERISA--which was passed based on a combination of Article 1 
     Section 8 Clause 3 (commerce clause) and Article 1 Section 8 
     Clause 18 (the necessary and proper clause).
           By Mr. GRIJALVA:
       H.R. 1799.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article IV, Section 3
           By Mr. GRIMM:
       H.R. 1800.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
           By Mr. HIGGINS:
       H.R. 1801.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The constitution authority of this legislation lies in the 
     power of congress to regulate commercial activity as 
     described in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3.
           By Mr. HONDA:
       H.R. 1802.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the United States 
     Constitution
            By Mr. HUDSON:
        H.R. 1803.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1 Section 8 Clause 3 states: ``To regulate Commerce 
     with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with 
     the Indian Tribes . . . 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. HUELSKAMP:
        H.R. 1804.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:

[[Page 6132]]

       Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
     States.
            By Ms. KUSTER:
        H.R. 1805.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (relating to 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) of the United States 
     Constitution.
            By Mr. LARSEN of Washington:
        H.R. 1806.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       As described in Article 1, Section 1 ``all legislative 
     powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the 
     United States . . .''
            By Ms. MATSUI:
        H.R. 1807.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3
            By Mr. MICHAUD:
        H.R. 1808.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, 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 the Constitution in the Government of 
     the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
       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. O'ROURKE:
        H.R. 1809.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 18 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution, 
     ``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. RADEL:
        H.R. 1810.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Section 8 of Article 1 of the United States Constitution
            By Mr. RADEL:
        H.R. 1811.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Section 8 of Article 1 of the United States Constitution
            By Mr. ROSKAM:
        H.R. 1812.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 4, which states that Congress 
     has the power to establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization
            By Mr. RYAN of Ohio:
        H.R. 1813.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 7
       The Congress shall have Power * * * To establish Post 
     Offices and post roads.
            By Mr. SCHOCK:
        H.R. 1814.
        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 as stated in Article I, Section 8, 
     Clause 1 of the United States Constitution.
            By Mr. STOCKMAN:
        H.R. 1815.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill makes specific changes to existing law in a 
     manner that returns power to the States and to the People, in 
     accordance with Amendment X of the United States 
     Constitution.
            By Mr. VEASEY:
        H.R. 1816.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8: The Congress shall have the power to 
     provide for the common defense.
            By Mr. VISCLOSKY:
        H.R. 1817.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 3 of Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution
            By Mr. YOUNG of Alaska:
        H.R. 1818.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
            By Mr. YOUNG of Alaska:
        H.R. 1819.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
            By Mr. YOUNG of Florida:
        H.R. 1820.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.
            By Mr. RAHALL:
        H.J. Res. 42.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress 
     the authority to propose Constitutional amendments.

                          ____________________