[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 4, Chapters 15 - 17]
[Chapter 17. Committees]
[D. Jurisdiction of Committees]
[Â§ 32. Committee on Armed Services]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 2821-2834]
 
                               CHAPTER 17
 
                               Committees
 
                         C. COMMITTEE PROCEDURE
 
Sec. 32. Committee on Armed Services

    Established Jan. 2, 1947, as a result of the Legislative 
Reorganization Act of 1946,(13) the Committee on Armed 
Services combined the Committees on Military Affairs and on Naval 
Affairs. The latter committees had been created in 1822 (14) 
and between 1885 and 1920 these committees had jurisdiction of military 
and naval appropriations. In 1953, the clause specifying the 
committee's responsibilities was changed in order to reflect the 
committee's jurisdiction over the then newly created Department of 
Defense which had been established by the National Security 
Act.(15)
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13. 60 Stat. 812.
14. 4 Hinds' Precedents Sec. Sec. 4179, 4189.
15. 61 Stat. 495.
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    The jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services pursuant to the 
1973 rules (16) read as follows:
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16. Rule XI clause 3, House Rules and Manual Sec. 681 (1973). See also 
        Rule X clause 1 Sec. (c), House Rules and Manual Sec. 672 
        (1979).
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        (a) Common defense generally.
        (b) The Department of Defense generally, including the 
    Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force generally.
        (c) Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals; Army, Navy, and Air 
    Force reservations and establishments.
        (d) Conservation, development, and use of naval petroleum and 
    oil shale reserves.
        (e) Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and 
    privileges of members of the armed forces.
        (f) Scientific research and development in support of the armed 
    services.
        (g) Selective service.
        (b) Size and composition of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
        (i) Soldiers' and sailors' homes.
        (j) Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common 
    defense.

    As the precedents reveal, the jurisdiction of the committee and its

[[Page 2822]]

predecessors over public bills has extended to permitting civil actions 
against the United States for damage to the reputation of servicemen; 
(17) authorizing the President to bestow military medals; 
(18) authorizing review of the armed services' retirement, 
disability, and discharge determinations; (1) dealing with 
certain military retirement (2) and other benefits; 
(3) authorizing construction of certain facilities at the 
Walter Reed Medical Center; (4) providing for payment of 
death gratuities by the military departments; (5) granting 
honorable discharges to World War I veterans; (6) 
recognizing the war time services of civilian groups; (7) 
amending the National Security Act to achieve military economies 
through reorganization; (8) furnishing headstones and 
memorials for military decedents and missing servicemen; (9) 
investigating artifacts of the Ryukyuan people; (10) 
amending the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to authorize 
payment of claims arising from the correction of military records; 
(11) authorizing appropriations for the acquisition of 
military housing; (12) and authorizing payment from military 
appropriations of moneys due on military housing 
contracts.(13)
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17. Sec. 32.1, infra.
18. Sec. Sec. 32.2, 32.3, infra.
 1. Sec. Sec. 32.4-32.8, infra.
 2. Sec. Sec. 32.19, 32.22, 32.23, infra.
 3. Sec. Sec. 32.20, 32.21, 32.29, infra.
 4. Sec. 32.9, infra.
 5. Sec. 32.10, infra.
 6. Sec. 32.11. infra.
 7. Sec. 32.28, infra.
 8. Sec. 32.12, infra.
 9. Sec. Sec. 32.13-32.15, infra.
10. Sec. 32.16, infra.
11. Sec. 32.29, infra.
12. Sec. 32.18, infra.
13. Sec. 32.18, infra.
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    In terms of private bills, the precedents indicate the committee's 
jurisdiction embraces such matters as conveying military property to a 
private corporation; (14) crediting certain military service 
for purposes of promotion; (15) and the making of 
determinations affecting individuals' retirement 
remuneration.(1)
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14. Sec. 32.24, infra.
15. Sec. 32.25, infra.
 1. Sec. Sec. 32.26, 32.27, infra.
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    As formalized by the Committee Reform Amendments of 1974, the 
committee's oversight jurisdiction includes not only those laws and 
agencies within its legislative jurisdiction (including titles 10 and 
32 of the United States Code) but also special oversight jurisdiction 
over international arms control and military dependents' 
education.(2)
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 2. Rule X clause 3(a), House Rules and Manual Sec. 693 (1979), as 
        amended by H. Res. 988, 120 Cong. Rec. 34447-70, Oct. 8, 1974.

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[[Page 2823]]

    The subcommittee structure of the Committee on Armed Services, in 
1973, consisted of five legislative subcommittees, two special 
subcommittees, and one oversight subcommittee, as follows:

                         Legislative Subcommittees

        1. Subcommittee on Research and Development;
        2. Subcommittee on Military Personnel;
        3. Subcommittee on Seapower;
        4. Subcommittee on Military Compensation;
        5. Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities.

                           Special Subcommittees

        1. Special Subcommittee on Human Relations;
        2. Special Subcommittee on Intelligence.

                           Oversight Subcommittee

        1. Armed Services Investigating Subcommittee.

    In the 95th Congress, the committee obtained jurisdiction over 
military applications of nuclear energy, when the legislative 
jurisdiction of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy was 
abolished.(3)
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 3. H. Res. 5, 123 Cong. Rec. 53-70, 95th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 
        1977.                          -------------------
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Civil Actions for Damages Brought Against the United States by 
    Servicemen

Sec. 32.1 In the 91st Congress, the Committee on Armed Services, and 
    not the Committee on the Judiciary, had jurisdiction over a bill 
    adding a new chapter to title 10, United States Code, to permit 
    civil actions in federal courts against the United States for 
    damage to the reputation of members of the armed forces charged 
    with committing certain crimes against civilians in combat zones if 
    such members are acquitted of such charges.

    On July 15, 1970,(4) Mr. Jack T. Brinkley, of Georgia, 
obtained unanimous consent to have H.R. 18365 discharged from further 
consideration by the Committee on the Judiciary and rereferred to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
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 4. 116 Cong. Rec. 24451, 91st Cong. 2d Sess.
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Authorizing President to Bestow Military Medals

Sec. 32.2 The Committee on Armed Services has jurisdiction of a bill 
    authorizing the President to bestow the

[[Page 2824]]

    decoration of the Purple Heart upon an individual.

    On Jan. 8, 1947,(5) H.R. 714 was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
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 5. 93 Cong. Rec. 193, 80th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 32.3 The Committee on Armed Services has jurisdiction of a bill 
    authorizing and directing the President to award posthumously a 
    Congressional Medal of Honor.

    On Jan. 9, 1947,(6) H.R. 743 was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
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 6. 93 Cong. Rec. 209, 80th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Armed Services' Review Over Discharge and Disability Matters

Sec. 32.4 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to amend section 302 
    of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, authorizing the armed 
    services' secretaries and the Secretary of the Treasury to 
    establish boards of review to examine the previous findings of 
    retirement boards regarding the physical condition of any officer 
    or former officer at the individual's request.

    On Mar. 1, 1950,(7) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, obtained unanimous 
consent to have his committee discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 5604 and to have it rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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 7. 96 Cong. Rec. 2591, 81st Cong. 2d Sess.
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Sec. 32.5 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to amend the 
    Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, to insure proper review of 
    disability status of officers discharged from the armed services.

    On Jan. 19, 1951,(8) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, obtained unanimous 
consent to have his committee discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 1085 and to have it rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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 8. 97 Cong. Rec. 453, 82d Cong. 1st Sess.
            For a similar instance, see also 99 Cong. Rec. 1441, 83d 
        Cong. 1st Sess., Feb. 26, 1953.
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Sec. 32.6 The Committee on Armed Services and not the

[[Page 2825]]

    Committee on Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to amend 
    the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 to: (1) insure proper 
    review of disability status of persons discharged from the armed 
    services, (2) provide for a copy of the disability record, and (3) 
    provide for a presumption of service-connected injury or disease.

    On Feb. 26, 1953,(9) Edith Nourse Rogers, of 
Massachusetts, Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, obtained 
unanimous consent to have her committee discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 1534 and to have it rereferred to the Committee 
on Armed Services. In so doing, Mrs. Rogers noted that a similar bill 
had been referred to that committee the previous year.
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 9. 99 Cong. Rec. 1442, 83d Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 32.7 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to authorize the 
    review of the findings of naval retiring boards and physical 
    evaluation boards in certain cases.

    On Apr. 16, 1951,(10) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, obtained unanimous 
consent to have his committee discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 3648 and to have it rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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10. 97 Cong. Rec. 3919, 82d Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 32.8 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of proposals to amend section 
    301 of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 with respect to 
    the jurisdiction of boards of review established under that section 
    to reconsider military discharges.

    On Feb. 20, 1952,(11) the Speaker (12) 
recognized John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, Chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, who noted that a communication (Exec. Comm. No. 
1171) from the Assistant Secretary of Defense recommending an amendment 
to the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 as described above, was 
referred to his committee.
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11. 98 CONG. REC. 1200, 82d Cong. 2d Sess.
12. Sam Rayburn (Tex.).
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    Mr. Rankin added:

        While it is true that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs has 
    jurisdiction over this law, the Boards of Review are administered 
    entirely by the Secretary

[[Page 2826]]

    of Defense and relate entirely to matters coming within the 
    jurisdiction of the Secretary. I therefore believe that it will be 
    more appropriate to have this matter considered by the Committee on 
    Armed Services and ask unanimous consent that the Executive 
    communication No. 1171 may be referred to the Committee on Armed 
    Services.

    Immediately thereafter, the House granted Mr. Rankin's 
request.(13)
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13. 98 Cong. Rec. 1201, 82d Cong. 2d Sess.
            Two days later, a bill (H.R. 6769), to amend Sec. 301 of 
        the act so as to limit the jurisdiction of the boards of review 
        was referred directly to the Committee on Armed Services. See 
        98 Cong. Rec. 1283, 82d Cong. 2d Sess., Feb. 22, 1952.
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Construction of Military Facilities

Sec. 32.9 In the 89th Congress, the Committee on Armed Services, and 
    not the Committee on Public Works, had jurisdiction of a measure 
    authorizing the Secretary of the Army to construct facilities at 
    Walter Reed Medical Center for the Armed Forces Institute of 
    Pathology.

    On Oct. 3, 1966,(14) Mr. Kenneth J. Gray, of Illinois, 
obtained unanimous consent to have the Committee on Public Works 
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18019 and to have it 
rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services.(15)
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14. 112 Cong. Rec. 24859, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
15. H.R. 18019 was reported by the Committee on Armed Services on Oct. 
        5, 1966 (H. Rept. No. 2190).
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Payment of Death Gratuities by Military Departments

Sec. 32.10 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to amend section 301 
    of the Servicemen's and Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act to provide 
    for expeditious payment of the death gratuity by military 
    departments.

    On Mar. 12, 1957,(16) Mr. Porter Hardy, Jr., of 
Virginia, obtained unanimous consent to have the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5382 and to have 
it rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services. In so doing, Mr. 
Hardy noted that he had discussed the matter with the chairmen of both 
committees, and they
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16. 103 Cong. Rec. 3529, 85th Cong. 1st Sess.
            For a similar instance, see 103 Cong. Rec. 14569, 85th 
        Cong. 1st Sess., Aug. 13, 1957.
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[[Page 2827]]

were ``in agreement that this should be done.''

Honorable Discharges

Sec. 32.11 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to provide for the 
    granting of honorable discharges to certain persons who served in 
    the Army during World War I.

    On Jan. 19, 1951,(17) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, obtained unanimous 
consent to have his committee discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 1080 and to have it referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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17. 97 Cong. Rec. 453, 82d Cong. 1st Sess.
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Military Economies Through Reorganization

Sec. 32.12 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Expenditures in the Executive Departments (now the Committee on 
    Government Operations) had jurisdiction over a bill to amend the 
    National Security Act of 1947 to promote economy and efficiency 
    through certain reorganizations and the integration of supply and 
    service activities within and among the military departments.

    On June 18, 1952,(18) Carl Vinson, of Georgia, Chairman 
of the Committee on Armed Services requested unanimous consent to have 
H.R. 8130 rereferred from the Committee on Expenditures in the 
Executive Departments (now the Committee on Government Operations), to 
the Committee on Armed Services. Although several Members, under 
reservation of objection, expressed concern about the shift of 
jurisdiction, each subsequently withdrew his objection and unanimous 
consent was granted.(19)
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18. 98 Cong. Rec. 7532, 82d Cong. 2d Sess.
19. Id. at p. 7544.
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Burial Headstones and Memorials for the Military

Sec. 32.13 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill authorizing the 
    Secretary of the Army to furnish headstones to mark the actual or 
    honorary burial places of deceased members or former members of the 
    military and naval forces.

[[Page 2828]]

    On Feb. 24, 1949,(1) Speaker pro tempore John W. 
McCormack, of Massachusetts, recognized John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, who requested unanimous 
consent to have his committee discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 920 and to have it rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services. 
In advancing his request, Mr. Rankin noted:
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 1. 95 Cong. Rec. 1498, 81st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        I may say, Mr. Speaker, that the Committee on Armed Services 
    has jurisdiction over this type of bill, and has a number of such 
    bills before it.

    Immediately thereafter, the following exchange took place:

        The Speaker Pro Tempore: Is there objection to the request of 
    the gentleman from Mississippi?
        Mr. [Francis H.] Case of South Dakota: Reserving the right to 
    object, Mr. Speaker, is this re-reference agreeable to the 
    Committee on Armed Services or the chairman thereof?
        Mr. Rankin: I suppose so. I am sure it is. I can see no reason 
    why it should not be.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: Is there objection to the request of 
    the gentleman from Mississippi?
        There was no objection.

    Parliamentarian's Note: Notwithstanding the transfer of 
jurisdiction to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in 1967 of veterans' 
cemetary legislation, bills to provide headstones or markers for former 
members of the armed forces have continued to be referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services. Such bills normally amend title 24 USC 
Sec. 279a, which law is within the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
Armed Services.

Sec. 32.14 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to provide for the 
    erection of appropriate memorial stones in memory of certain 
    members of the armed forces in World War II who were missing, 
    missing in action, or buried at sea.

    On Apr. 20, 1950,(2) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, obtained unanimous 
consent to have his committee discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 8082 and to have if rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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 2. 96 Cong. Rec. 5462, 81st Cong. 2d Sess.
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Sec. 32.15 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Foreign Af

[[Page 2829]]

    fairs has jurisdiction of a bill authorizing an appropriation to 
    the Corregidor-Bataan Memorial Commission of an amount equal to 
    amounts, not in excess of $7,500,000, to be received by the 
    Secretary of the Navy from the sale of vessels stricken from the 
    Naval Vessel Register.

    On July 10, 1958,(3) Mr. Thomas E. Morgan, of 
Pennsylvania, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, obtained 
unanimous consent to have that committee discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 13265 and to have it rereferred to the Committee 
on Armed Services.(4)
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 3. 104 Cong. Rec. 13417, 85th Cong. 2d Sess.
 4. H.R. 13265 was reported by the Committee on Armed Services on July 
        17, 1958 (H. Rept. No. 2213).
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Investigating Ryukyuan Artifacts

Sec. 32.16 In the 87th Congress, the Committee on Armed Services, and 
    not the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, had jurisdiction 
    of a bill to authorize an investigation of cultural and historical 
    artifacts of the Ryukyuan people.

    On Aug. 7, 1961,(5) Wayne N. Aspinall, of Colorado, 
Chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, obtained 
unanimous consent to have his committee discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 8461 and to have it rereferred to the Committee 
on Armed Services.
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 5. 107 Cong. Rec. 14786, 14787, 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Armed Services Housing Contracts

Sec. 32.17 In the 87th Congress, the Committee on Armed Services, and 
    not the Committee on Banking and Currency, had jurisdiction of a 
    bill conferring jurisdiction in certain cases on the secretaries of 
    the military departments to authorize payment from appropriated 
    funds of the military departments of amounts determined to be owing 
    to contractors under armed services housing contracts entered into 
    under authority of the National Housing Act.(6)
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 6. 12 USC Sec. Sec. 1748 et seq.
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    On Feb. 21, 1962,(7) Brent Spence, of Kentucky, Chairman 
of the Committee on Banking and
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 7. 108 Cong. Rec. 2684, 87th Cong. 2d Sess.
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[[Page 2830]]

Currency, obtained unanimous consent to have his committee discharged 
from further consideration of H.R. 10251 and to have it rereferred to 
the Committee on Armed Services.

    Parliamentarian's Note: The armed services' contracts referred to 
consisted of housing contracts entered into under the authority of the 
National Housing Act.

Acquisition of Military Housing

Sec. 32.18 In the 90th Congress, the Committee on Armed Services, and 
    not the Committee on Banking and Currency, had jurisdiction of a 
    bill authorizing appropriations for use by the Secretary of Defense 
    for acquisition of housing on or near military bases which have 
    been ordered closed, even though the authorization for such program 
    was contained in an omnibus housing act [reported from the 
    Committee on Banking and Currency].

    On Apr. 18, 1967,(8) Wright Patman, of Texas, Chairman 
of the Committee on Banking and Currency, obtained unanimous consent to 
have S. 1216 rereferred from his committee to the Committee on Armed 
Services.
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 8. 113 Cong. Rec. 9981, 90th Cong. 1st Sess.
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    Parliamentarian's Note: The Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan 
Development Act of 1966 [42 USC Sec. 3347] contains a section 
authorizing the Secretary of Defense to acquire housing on or near a 
military base which is ordered closed; the section specifies that no 
funds may be appropriated for such acquisitions unless authorized in a 
military construction authorization act. Requests for such 
authorizations are thus referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services.(9)
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 9. S. 1216 was reported by the Committee on Armed Services on Apr. 26, 
        1967 (H. Rept. No. 215).
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Military Discharge and Retirement

Sec. 32.19 The Committee on Military Affairs (now the Committee on 
    Armed Services) and not the Committee on World War Veterans' 
    Legislation (now the Committee on Veterans' Affairs) had 
    jurisdiction of a bill to extend indefinitely the time before which 
    valid applications could be filed for disabled emergency officers' 
    retirement benefits.

[[Page 2831]]

    On Jan. 29, 1941,(10) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation obtained 
unanimous consent to have his committee discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 2260 and to have it rereferred to the Committee 
on Military Affairs.
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10. 87 Cong. Rec. 348, 77th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Veterans' Benefits

Sec. 32.20 The Committee on Military Affairs (now the Committee on 
    Armed Services) and not the Committee on World War Veterans' 
    Legislation (now the Committee on Veterans' Affairs) had 
    jurisdiction over a bill relating to the type of discharge to be 
    awarded to veterans who served honorably during World War I and 
    were later discharged.

    On June 19, 1939,(11) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation, obtained 
unanimous consent to have his committee discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 5027 and to have it rereferred to the Committee 
on Military Affairs.
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11. 84 Cong. Rec. 7462, 76th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 32.21 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs has jurisdiction of a bill to amend section 102 
    of the Servicemen's and Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act to specify 
    a method of determining basic pay for the purpose of that act in 
    the case of members and former members of the Philippine Scouts.

    On Mar. 12, 1957,(12) Mr. Porter Hardy, Jr., of 
Virginia, obtained unanimous consent to have the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5701 and to have 
it rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services. In so doing Mr. Hardy 
noted that he had discussed the matter with the chairmen of both 
committees, and they were ``in agreement that this should be done.''
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12. 103 Cong. Rec. 3529, 85th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 32.22 The Committee on Military Affairs (now the Committee on 
    Armed Services) and not the Committee on World War Veterans' 
    Legislation (now the Committee on Veterans' Affairs) had 
    jurisdiction of a bill to provide retirement benefits for certain 
    emergency officers of the First World War.

[[Page 2832]]

    On May 27, 1941,(13) John E. Rankin, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation, obtained 
unanimous consent to have his committee discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 3208 and to have it rereferred to the Committee 
on Military Affairs.
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13. 87 Cong. Rec. 4447, 77th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 32.23 The Committee on Military Affairs (now the Committee on 
    Armed Services) and not the Committee on World War Veterans' 
    Legislation (now the Committee on Veterans' Affairs) had 
    jurisdiction of a bill to remove certain limitations on the amount 
    of retired pay of regular or emergency officers who were veterans 
    of the War with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection, the China 
    Relief Expedition or World War I.

    On Feb. 24, 1941,(14) Mr. John E. Rankin, of 
Mississippi, Chairman of the Committee on World War Veterans' 
Legislation was granted unanimous consent that his committee be 
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 319 and that the bill be 
rereferred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
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14. 87 Cong. Rec. 1328, 77th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Conveyance of Military Property

Sec. 32.24 In the 87th Congress, the Committee on Armed Services, and 
    not the Committee on Public Works, had jurisdiction of a private 
    bill authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to convey to a private 
    corporation certain lands which were part of a naval ordnance 
    facility.

    On Apr, 10, 1961,(15) Carl Vinson, of Georgia, Chairman 
of the Committee on Armed Services, obtained unanimous consent to have 
H.R. 6026 which had been referred to the Committee on Public Works, 
rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services.
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15. 107 Cong. Rec. 5526, 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Private Bill Crediting Service for Air Force Promotion

Sec. 32.25 The Committee on Armed Services, and not the Committee on 
    the Judiciary, has jurisdiction of a private bill to credit service 
    performed as a Judge Advocate General in the Air Force as ``regular 
    service'' for purposes of promotion.

[[Page 2833]]

    On May 22, 1961,(16) Mr. John W. McCormack, of 
Massachusetts, obtained unanimous consent to have H.R. 6277 referred 
from the Committee on the Judiciary to the Committee on Armed Services.
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16. 107 Cong Rec. 8556, 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Private Bill for Military Retirement Benefits

Sec. 32.26 The Committee on Armed Services, and not the Committee on 
    the Judiciary has jurisdiction of a private bill establishing the 
    basis for computation of retired pay of a member of the military 
    services.

    On June 12, 1961,(17) Mr. John W. McCormack, of 
Massachusetts, obtained unanimous consent that H.R. 6738 be rereferred 
from the Committee on the Judiciary to the Committee on Armed Services.
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17. 107 Cong. Rec. 10096, 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 32.27 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on the 
    Judiciary has jurisdiction of a private bill authorizing and 
    directing the Secretary of the Navy to pay a fixed monthly sum for 
    life to a former associate professor of the U.S. Naval Academy.

    On Jan. 24, 1950,(18) Emanuel Celler, of New York, 
Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, requested unanimous consent 
that H.R. 2932 which had been referred to that committee, be rereferred 
to the Committee on Armed Services. The bill provided for the payment 
of $100 per month for life to the individual described above beginning 
with the month in which the measure was approved and with costs to be 
charged to such appropriations as would be made for the payment of 
retirement annuities to civilian members of the teaching staff of the 
academy and its postgraduate schools.
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18. 96 Cong. Rec. 845, 846, 81st Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There was no objection to the request.

Recognition of Civilian Volunteers

Sec. 32.28 The Committee on Military Affairs (now the Committee on 
    Armed Services) and not the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and 
    Measures (now the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs) 
    had jurisdiction of a bill to provide for suitable recognition of 
    the voluntary services of civilian nurses

[[Page 2834]]

    with the Army during the influenza epidemic.

    On Feb. 28, 1940,(1) Mr. Andrew L. Somers, of New York, 
requested unanimous consent to have the Committee on Coinage, Weights, 
and Measures discharged from consideration of H.R. 8394, and upon 
noting it was the ``practice of the Congress to consider these measures 
through the Committee on Military Affairs,'' he additionally requested 
the bill be rereferred to that committee.
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 1. 86 Cong. Rec. 2117, 76th Cong. 3d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Immediately thereafter, the House granted unanimous consent.

Claims of Servicemen Arising From Correction of Military Records

Sec. 32.29 The Committee on Armed Services and not the Committee on the 
    Judiciary had jurisdiction of a bill to amend section 207 of the 
    Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 so as to authorize payment 
    of claims arising from correction of military or naval records.

    On Apr. 4, 1950,(2) Emanuel Celler, of New York, 
Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, requested unanimous consent 
to have his committee discharged from further consideration of H.R. 
2058 and to have it rereferred to the Committee on Armed Services. In 
so doing, he noted that ``Past practice indicated the procedure that 
these bills were always considered by the Committee on Armed 
Services.''
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 2. 96 Cong. Rec. 4666, 81st Cong. 2d Sess.
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    Immediately thereafter, the House granted unanimous consent.