[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14869]
[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 Ms. VELAZQUEZ:
       H.R. 3610.
       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. FINCHER:
       H.R. 3611.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section VIII
           By Mr. CUELLAR:
       H.R. 3612.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The principal constititional 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 Defense 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 Mr. CARTWRIGHT:
       H.R. 3613.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 3.
           By Mr. SHUSTER:
       H.R. 3614.
       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. GUINTA:
       H.R. 3615.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I Section VIII Clause XVIII, The Necessary amd 
     Proper Clause: The Congress shall have power . . . to make 
     all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
     into execution the foregoing powers, and all powers vested by 
     this constitution in the government of the United States, or 
     in any department or officer thereof.
           By Mr. FORBES:
       H.R. 3616.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, and Article 1, Section 8, 
     Clause 1.
           By Mr. GRAVES of Missouri:
       H.R. 3617.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Consitution gives 
     Congress the authority to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, 
     Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the . . 
     . general Welfare of the United States.
           By Mr. LANCE:
       H.R. 3618.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Sec. 8, Clause 1, of the United States 
     Constitution
       This states that ``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.''
           By Ms. NORTON:
       H.R. 3619.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       clause 2 of section 3 of article IV of the Constitution.

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