[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5001]
[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. LOWEY:
       H.R. 5044.
       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 Mrs. ELLMERS of North Carolina:
       H.R. 5045.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3: ``to regulate commerce with 
     foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the 
     Indian tribes.''
           By Mr. SENSENBRENNER:
       H.R. 5046.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I Section 8, Clause 1
           By Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia:
       H.R. 5047.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 12 of the United States 
     Constitution which states that Congress shall have the power 
     ``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 13 of the United States 
     Constitution which states that Congress shall have the power 
     ``To provide and maintain a Navy.''
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 14 of the United States 
     Constitution which states that Congress shall have the power 
     ``To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land 
     and naval Forces.''
       Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the United States 
     Constitution which states that Congress shall have the 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.''

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