[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10114]
[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 Mrs. LUMMIS:
       H.R. 4869.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Constitutional Authority Statement
       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; and
       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 this Constitution in the Government of 
     the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
           By Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN:
       H.R. 4870.
       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.

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