[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E714-E715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

______

speech of

HON. MAC THORNBERRY

of texas

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1735) to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military
activities of the Department of Defense and for military
construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for
such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chair, I ask that the following exchange of
letters be submitted during consideration of H.R. 1735:

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual
understanding regarding H.R. 1735, the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which contains
substantial matter that falls within the Rule X legislative
jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I appreciate
the cooperation that allowed us to work out mutually
agreeable text on numerous matters prior to your markup.
Based on that cooperation and our associated
understandings, the Foreign Affairs Committee will not seek a
sequential referral or object to floor consideration of the
bill text approved at your Committee markup. This decision in
no way diminishes or alters

[[Page E715]]

the jurisdictional interests of the Foreign Affairs Committee
in this bill, any subsequent amendments, or similar
legislation. I request your support for the appointment of
House Foreign Affairs conferees during any House-Senate
conference on this legislation.
Finally, I respectfully request that you include this
letter and your response in your committee report on the bill
and in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R.
1735 on the House floor.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Armed Services,

Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.
1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2016. I agree that the Committee on Foreign Affairs has valid
jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this important
legislation, and I am most appreciative of your decision not
to request a referral in the interest of expediting
consideration of the bill. I agree that by foregoing a
sequential referral, the Committee on Foreign Affairs is not
waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters
will be included in the committee report on the bill.
Sincerely,
William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform,
Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the
jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform in matters being considered in H.R. 1735,
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.
Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 1735 and
the need for the legislation to move expeditiously.
Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over
the bill, I do not intend to request a sequential referral.
This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding
that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forego a
sequential referral waives, reduces or otherwise affects the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, and that a copy of this letter and your response
acknowledging our jurisdictional interest will be included in
the Committee Report and as part of the Congressional Record
during consideration of this bill by the House.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform also asks
that you support our request to be conferees on the
provisions over which we have jurisdiction during any House-
Senate conference.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Armed Services,

Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.
1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2016. I agree that the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform has valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions
in this important legislation, and I am most appreciative of
your decision not to request a referral in the interest of
expediting consideration of the bill. I agree that by
foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform is not waiving its jurisdiction.
Further, this exchange of letters will be included in the
committee report on the bill.
Sincerely,
William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence,
Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
Hon. Mac Thornberry,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: In recognition of the importance of
expediting the passage of H.R. 1735, the ``Fiscal Year 2016
National Defense Authorization Bill'', the House Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence hereby waives further
consideration of the bill. The Committee has jurisdictional
interests in H.R. 1735, including intelligence and
intelligence-related authorizations and provisions in the
amendment.
The Committee takes this action only with the understanding
that this procedural route should not be construed to
prejudice the House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence's jurisdictional interest over this bill or any
similar bill and will not be considered precedent for
consideration of matters of jurisdictional interest to the
Committee in the future, including in connection with any
subsequent consideration of the bill by the House. In
addition, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will
seek conferees on any provisions in the bill that are within
its jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may
be convened on this legislation.
Finally, I would ask that you include a copy of our
exchange of letters on this matter in the Congressional
Record during the House debate on H.R. 1735. I appreciate the
constructive work between our committees on this matter and
thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Devin Nunes,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Armed Services,

Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
Hon. Devin Nunes,
Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.
1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2016. I agree that the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence has valid jurisdictional claims to certain
provisions in this important legislation, and I am most
appreciative of your decision not to request a referral in
the interest of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree
that by foregoing a sequential referral, the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence is not waiving its jurisdiction.
Further, this exchange of letters will be included in the
committee report on the bill.
Sincerely,
William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
Chairman.

____________________