[House Report 114-410]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


114th Congress    }                                           {   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                           {   114-410

======================================================================



 
                NATIONAL POW/MIA REMEMBRANCE ACT OF 2015

                                _______
                                

February 1, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mrs. Miller of Michigan, from the Committee on House Administration, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1670]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1670) to direct the Architect of the Capitol to 
place in the United States Capitol a chair honoring American 
Prisoners of War/Missing in Action, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that 
the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

    H.R. 1670, titled the ``National POW/MIA Remembrance Act of 
2015,'' directs the Architect of the Capitol to place a 
commemorative chair, paid for by private donations, in the 
United States Capitol to honor American Prisoners of War/
Missing in Action.

                BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

    In recent years, commemorative chairs honoring American 
Prisoners of War/Missing in Action have been placed in 
prominent locations across the United States. This effort has 
been championed by the veterans' group Rolling Thunder whose 
stated mission is to: ``educate the public that many American 
Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars and 
to help correct the past and to protect the future veterans 
from being left behind should they become Prisoners Of War/
Missing In Action.'' There are currently over 90 Rolling 
Thunder chapters in the United States, each sponsoring chairs 
in their state capitols, city halls, and sports arenas.
    These chairs are meant to represent those prisoners of war 
and missing in action that are unable to fill them because of 
their great sacrifice. These chairs also serve as a reminder to 
us all that there are men and women in uniform putting their 
freedom and lives at stake every day. Featuring the logo of the 
National League of POW/MIA, these chairs immediately catch the 
eye of passersby and provide a moment of reflection for us all. 
The placement of a commemorative chair in the United States 
Capitol is reminder to each of us of those who have not 
returned home.
    H.R. 1670 directs the Architect of the Capitol to place in 
the United States Capitol one of these chairs to honor American 
Prisoners of War/Missing in Action. The Architect of the 
Capitol shall enter into an agreement to obtain a chair 
featuring the logo of the National League of POW/MIA Families 
under such terms and conditions as the Architect considers 
appropriate and consistent with applicable law. Within two 
years after the date of enactment, the Architect shall place 
the chair in a suitable permanent location in the United States 
Capitol.

                               CONCLUSION

    H.R. 1670 recognizes and honors this country's Prisoners of 
War/Missing in Action. Given their enormous sacrifice, a 
commemorative chair should be placed in the United States 
Capitol.

                       INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL

    On March 26, 2015, Congressman Stephen Lynch of 
Massachusetts introduced H.R. 1670, which was referred to the 
Committee on House Administration.

                                HEARINGS

    There were no legislative hearings held on H.R. 1670.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On December 2, 2015, the Committee on House Administration 
met to consider H.R. 1670. The Committee ordered the bill 
reported favorably to the House without amendment by voice vote 
with a quorum present.

                         COMMITTEE RECORD VOTES

    In compliance with House rule XIII, clause 3(b), requiring 
the results of each record vote on an amendment or motion to 
report, together with the names of those voting for and 
against, to be printed in the Committee report, the Committee 
states that there were no record votes during the Committee's 
consideration of H.R. 1670.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    In compliance with House rule XIII, clause 3(c)(1), the 
Committee states that the findings and recommendations of the 
Committee, based on oversight activities under House rule X, 
clause 2(b)(1), are incorporated into the general discussion 
section of this report.

            STATEMENT OF BUDGET AUTHORITY AND RELATED ITEMS

    The bill does not provide new budget authority, new 
spending authority, new credit authority, or an increase or 
decrease in revenues or tax expenditures and a statement under 
House rule XIII, clause 3(c)(2), and section 308(a)(1) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is not required.

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                  Washington, DC, December 4, 2015.
Hon. Candice Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1670, the National 
POW/MIA Remembrance Act of 2015.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 
Pickford.
            Sincerely,
                                                        Keith Hall.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1670--National POW/MIA Remembrance Act of 2015

    H.R. 1670 would authorize the Architect of the Capitol to 
enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization to place 
a chair in the United States Capitol featuring the logo of the 
National League of POW/MIA Families. The bill also would 
require private donations to pay for all costs. CBO estimates 
that implementing H.R. 1670 would have no significant effect on 
the federal budget.
    Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. 
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1670 would not increase net 
direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
    H.R. 1670 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew 
Pickford. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H.R. 1670 does not provide any new 
spending or savings.

                    PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    In compliance with House rule XIII, clause 3(c)(4), the 
Committee states that the general discussion section of this 
report includes a statement of the general performance goals 
and objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution granting 
Congress the authority to exercise exclusive legislation in all 
cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles 
square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the 
acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of 
the United States.

                          ADVISORY ON EARMARKS

    In accordance with House rule XXI, clause 9, the Committee 
states that H.R. 1670 does not contain any congressional 
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as 
defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI.