[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3727]
[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. REICHERT:
       H.R. 4137.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States 
     Constitution, to ``provide for the common Defence and general 
     Welfare of the United States.''
            By Mr. GOWDY:
       H.R. 4138.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The constitutional authority on which this legislation is 
     based is found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 9; Article 
     III, Section 1; and Article III, Section 2, Clause 2 of the 
     Constitution, which grant Congress authority over federal 
     courts. In addition, each House of Congress may determine the 
     rules of its proceedings under Article I, Section 5, Clause 
     2.
            By Mr. TURNER:
       H.R. 4139.
       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 Mrs. NEGRETE McLEOD:
       H.R. 4140.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8, ``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. CRENSHAW:
       H.R. 4141.
       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. GOSAR:
       H.R. 4142.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This legislation is constitutionally appropriate pursuant 
     to Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 (the Spending Clause).
       The Supreme Court, in South Dakota v. Dole (1987), reasoned 
     that conditions and limitations on funds were constitutional 
     and within the power of Congress under the Spending Clause.
       Thus, conditioning receipt of federal funds in order to 
     direct appropriate spending goals and purposes are 
     constitutionally permissible. As long as the spending is on 
     ``the general welfare'' (i.e. national in scope) and the 
     condition is clear, and related to the program being funded, 
     the limitation is constitutional.
            By Ms. GRANGER:
       H.R. 4143.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the United States 
     Constitution that 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. GRIMM:
       H.R. 4144.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3,
            By Mr. ISRAEL:
       H.R. 4145.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States 
     Constitution
            By Mr. PAULSEN:
       H.R. 4146.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
            By Mr. TAKANO:
       H.R. 4147.
       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. SAM JOHNSON of Texas:
       H.J. Res. 111.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17, giving Congress exclusive 
     jurisdiction over the District of Columbia. That clause was 
     cited as the authority for the government's ability to accept 
     the original Smithson donation and the creation of the 
     Smithsonian Institution via the Act of August 10, 1846.
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18, the Necessary and Proper 
     clause, which provides the power to enact legislation 
     necessary to effectuate one of the earlier enumerated powers, 
     such as the authority granted in Clause 17 above.

                          ____________________