[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 702-704]
[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. CALVERT:
       H.R. 340.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The constitutional authority of Congress to enact this 
     legislation is Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution, 
     specifically Clauses 1 (relating to providing for the general 
     welfare of the United States) and 18 (relating to the power 
     to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the 
     powers vested in Congress) of such section.
       OR
       The constitutional authority of Congress to enact this 
     legislation is Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 and Clause 18.
           By Mr. CALVERT:
       H.R. 341.
       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 18 (relating to the 
     power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out 
     the powers vested in Congress).
            By Mr. DENHAM:
       H.R. 342.
       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. McKINLEY:
       H.R. 343.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       According to Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the 
     Constitution, ``The Congress shall have power to enact this 
     legislation to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and 
     among the several states, and with Indian tribes.''
           By Ms. DelBENE:
       H.R. 344.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.
           By Mr. GRAYSON:
       H.R. 345.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
     States of America.
           By Mr. CARTWRIGHT:
       H.R. 346.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution relating to 
     the power of Congress 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)
            By Mr. ROYCE:
       H.R. 347.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Under Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. 
     Constitution to regulate commerce.
           By Mr. MARINO:
       H.R. 348.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, in 
     that the legislation concerns the exercise of legislative 
     powers generally granted to Congress by that section, 
     including the exercise of those powers when delegated by 
     Congress to the Executive; Article I, Section 8, clause 18 of 
     the United States Constitution, in that the legislation 
     exercises legislative power granted to Congress by that 
     clause ``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,'' 
     and Article III, in that the legislation defines or affects 
     powers of the Judiciary that are subject to legislation by 
     Congress.
           By Mr. LATTA:
       H.R. 349.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       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 Mrs. NOEM:
       H.R. 350.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8
           By Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio:
       H.R. 351.
       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. DUFFY:
       H.R. 352.
       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
           By Mr. DUFFY:
       H.R. 353.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8: 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. DUFFY:
       H.R. 354.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, 
     specifically Clause 1, Clause 3, and Clause 18.
            By Mr. DUFFY:
       H.R. 355.
       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
           By Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York:
       H.R. 356.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8
           By Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York:
       H.R. 357.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:

[[Page 703]]

       Article I, Section 8
           By Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York:
       H.R. 358.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8. ``The Congress shall have the power . 
     . . to coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign 
     Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;''
           By Mr. STIVERS:
       H.R. 359.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 13
       The Congress shall have Power to provide and maintain a 
     Navy.
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 12
       To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money 
     to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years.
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 14
       To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land 
     and naval Forces.
           By Mr. PEARCE:
       H.R. 360.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States 
     Constitution
       By Mr. BILIRAKIS:
       H.R. 361.
       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. CICILLINE:
       H.R. 362.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, section 8
           By Mr. CICILLINE:
       H.R. 363.
       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. CLAWSON of Florida:
       H.R. 364.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       U.S. Const. art. I, Sec. 8
           By Mr. COHEN:
       H.R. 365.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18
           By Mr. COHEN:
       H.R. 366.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, clause 3 of the United States 
     Constitution allows Congress to regulate interstate commerce.
       Article I, Section 8, clause 18 is the necessary and proper 
     clause, allowing Congress to enact all laws necessary and 
     proper for executing any of their enumerated powers.
           By Mr. DEUTCH:
       H.R. 367.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the US Constitution
       The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for 
     Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each 
     State by the Legislature thereof; but Congress may at any 
     time make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place 
     of choosing Senators.
           By Mr. DEUTCH:
       H.R. 368.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 3 of Section 8 of Article I of the U.S. 
     Constitution.
           By Mrs. ELLMERS:
       H.R. 369.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Power to tax and pay debts--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;''
       The Commerce Clause--Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3: ``To 
     regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the several 
     states, and with the Indian tribes;''
           By Mr. FLEMING:
       H.R. 370.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Clause 1, Section 8 of Article 1 of the United States 
     Constitution;
       This bill also 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. FORTENBERRY:
       H.R. 371.
       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. AL GREEN of Texas:
       H.R. 372.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following.
       The Constitutional authority to enact this legislation can 
     be found in:
       General Welfare Clause (Art. 1 sec. 8 cl. 1)
       Commerce Clause (Art. 1 sec. 8 cl. 3)
       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. HECK of Nevada:
       H.R. 373.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The power granted to Congress under Article I, Section 8, 
     Clause 18 of the United States Constitution, 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 the Government of the United 
     States, or in any Department or officer thereof.
           By Mr. HIMES:
       H.R. 374.
       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. HIMES:
       H.R. 375.
       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. HONDA:
       H.R. 376.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution
           By Mr. HONDA:
       H.R. 377.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution
           By Mr. HONDA:
       H.R. 378.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution
           By Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas:
       H.R. 379.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3
           By Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas:
       H.R. 380.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18
           By Ms. KAPTUR:
       H.R. 381.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       This bill is enacted pursuant to power granted to Congress 
     under Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.
           By Mr. LAMBORN:
       H.R. 382.
       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. LUETKEMEYER:
       H.R. 383.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Constitutional authority on which this bill is based is 
     Congress's power under the Spending Clause in Article I, 
     Section 8 of the Constitution.
           By Mrs. LUMMIS:
       H.R. 384.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 9: No Money shall be drawn from the 
     Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; 
     and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and 
     Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time 
     to time.
           By Mr. PETERS:
       H.R. 385.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of US Constitution.
            By Mr. RUIZ:
       H.R. 386.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, section 8, Clauses 1 and 18 of the United States 
     Constitution, to provide for the general welfare and make all 
     laws necessary and proper to carry out the powers of 
     Congress.
            By Mr. RUIZ:
       H.R. 387.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       clause 18 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution

[[Page 704]]


            By Mr. RUIZ:
       H.R. 388.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       clause 18 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution
           By Ms. SCHAKOWSKY:
       H.R. 389.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section XIII.
           By Mr. SENSENBRENNER:
       H.R. 390.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
            By Mr. YARMUTH:
       H.R. 391.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Section 8 of Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution.
           By Mr. YOUNG of Alaska:
       H.R. 392.
       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. 393.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3
           By Mr. YOUNG of Alaska:
       H.R. 394.
       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. 395.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3
            By Ms. PELOSI:
       H.R. 396.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, 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 their right 
     to remain here] is entrusted exclusively to Congress has 
     become about as firmly imbedded in the legislative and 
     judicial tissues of our body politic as any aspect of our 
     government.'' And, as the Court found in Kleindienst v. 
     Mandel, 408 U.S. 753, 766 (1972) (quoting Boutilier v. INS, 
     387 U.S. 118, 123 (1967)), ``[t]he Court without exception 
     has sustained Congress' `plenary power to make rules for the 
     admission of aliens and to exclude those who possess those 
     characteristics which Congress has forbidden.'''
            By Mr. POLIS:
       H.R. 397.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 4
       To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform 
     laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United 
     States;
            By Mr. DUFFY:
       H.J. Res. 21.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article V:
       ``The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall 
     deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this 
     Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of 
     two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for 
     proposing Amendments, which in either Case, shall be valid to 
     all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this, Constitution, when 
     ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several 
     States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one 
     or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the 
     Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior 
     to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any 
     Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth 
     Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its 
     Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the 
     Senate.''

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