Buck McKeon

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I pointed out to the gentleman recently that neither of us were in these jobs when President Bush was in office, so we don't know what we would have done at that time. I would hope that, if he went against the law, we would take similar action. I think that we would have done that. I yield at this time 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, just a little reality check here. I offered the points that went into the National Defense Authorization Act. One of the reasons I did it was because we specifically did not want any detainees to be taken from Guantanamo without alerting the Congress, because they had tried it before and it had pushback from the Congress and we felt like we should have a part in that protection of our people. There are 80 people, detainees, in Guantanamo that have been vetted and that are approved for possible transfer to a suitable location. None of these five were on that list. All were considered too dangerous to be on that list. There were several months of negotiations. There was plenty of time to give us the 30 days' notice. They talked to 80 to 90 people in four different executive branches: the State Department, the Defense Department, the White House, and Homeland Security, but not one Member of Congress, in compliance with the law. They didn't talk to Senator Reid, they didn't talk to Senator Feinstein, and they didn't talk to the Speaker. Nobody. And that was not accidental. That was a firm decision to avoid the law and to avoid going to the Congress, which was required. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ribble), my friend and colleague, a member of the Budget Committee, and cosponsor of the resolution.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I respect my friend. We came to Congress together, and I appreciate his remarks on a lot of things. But we should get back to the subject at hand. This has nothing to do with Sergeant Bergdahl. This has to do with the action that the President took. We are all happy that Sergeant Bergdahl is home, and we are glad that he is here, and his case will be taken care of separately. Mr. Speaker, there is a call to do something for the President. The President hasn't asked us to do anything yet. He is not even speaking until tomorrow. Then we will see what he has to say, and then we will see how we move forward. I am not an attorney. My good friend from Washington is a great attorney. And I recall when we had Secretary Hagel, and Secretary Hagel made the comment that he thought what they did was within the law. And my good friend responded that here is the way it works: The President signed the bill and said that he disagreed with it, but that does not change it. It is still the law until it is challenged in the courts. That is our system. Anyway, Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow), my good friend from the other side of the aisle.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), my friend and colleague, and a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), my friend and colleague and a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. DeSantis), my friend and colleague and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am leaving Congress at the end of this year, but I am sure at home I will still be able to hear blame on President Bush for at least the next 2 years. One thing we can't escape is the fact that this went on for months. Even though they had to make a critical last-minute decision, they still had time to notify 80 to 90 people in the executive branch and not one Member of the House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, in accordance with the law. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) to give the concluding remarks on this debate. He is the vice chairman of the Armed Services Committee and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, might I inquire as to how much time is left?

Mr. McKEON. We have just one more speaker. Mr. Speaker, the inference has been that this happened on the spur of the moment and they didn't have time to tell Congress. These negotiations on this transfer went on for months. They have admitted they told 80 to 90 people in four of the departments of the executive branch but not one Member of Congress, in compliance with the law. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schock).

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Today it is my pleasure to bring to the floor H.R. 4939, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 2551 Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, California, as the Neil Havens Post Office. I want to thank Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings for giving my legislation a fair hearing and for moving the bill through committee in an expeditious manner. Madam Speaker, I also want to thank the mayor of Simi Valley, Bob Huber, for the great leadership that he provides to the Valley, for his service and dedication over a great number of years. He is the one who pointed out to me what the Havens family has meant to the Simi Valley and suggested naming the post office in their honor. It was found out that we don't name post offices after a whole family; it has to be named after one person. Neil, having served the longest, was given that distinction. Madam Speaker, much of this has already been said, but I think it bears repeating. I have heard that a genius is one who hears something six times and then accepts it, so this will only be three times. Neil Havens, Charles ``Neil'' Havens, was the longest serving postmaster in Simi Valley history, serving more than 30 years with the U.S. Post Office department and the Postal Service. His retirement ended three-quarters of a century of mail service by the Havens family of Simi Valley. The first rural route set up in Simi began in 1912, when Neil's grandfather served as the first carrier. The Havens family became synonymous with mail service in the area, having multiple generations delivering letters. Despite losing one Havens carrier to combat in World War I, the Havens family persevered and continued to serve their community, starting out when they just had a couple of people in the community. Neil, following a competitive examination, continued the family tradition in 1958, after being appointed postmaster by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Over the course of his admirable career, Neil Havens saw mail service grow from Route 1, Simi, California, with a single carrier, to a team of more than 170 employees and approximately 60 routes. In July of 2004, Postmaster Havens passed away while resting in his favorite chair at the home he and his wife, Pat, had owned for 53 years. A Rotary Club President, Navy reservist, and supporter of charitable and educational foundations, Neil embodied the spirit of the Simi Valley. Known for his firm handshake, his trademark jawline beard and endless desire to serve, Neil Havens left an indelible legacy in his hometown. Madam Speaker, thank you for giving my bill time on the floor. I cannot think of a better tribute to such a consummate public servant. I urge my colleagues to support this bill which will mean so much to the Havens family and the folks in Simi Valley.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I ask that the following exchange of letters be included as part of the Record during consideration of H.R. 4435: Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, DC, May 9, 2014. Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: In recognition of the importance of expediting the passage of H.R. 4435, the ``Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Bill,'' the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hereby waives further consideration of the bill. The Committee has jurisdictional interests in H.R. 4435, including intelligence and intelligence-related authorizations and provisions contained in the bill. 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 as 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 of 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. 4435. I appreciate the constructive work between our committees on this matter and thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Mike Rogers, Chairman.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I ask that the following exchange of letters be included as part of the Record during consideration of H.R. 4435: Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Washington, DC, May 9, 2014. Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the bill H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. There are certain provisions in the legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name members of this committee to any conference committee which is named to consider such provisions. Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 4435 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Darrell Issa, Chairman.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their warm round of applause. It was great to hear their feelings. We, on the Armed Services Committee and here in Congress, have the responsibility to provide for our national defense for our interests around the world and the commitments we have made to our friends and allies. We do not have a defense to provide jobs. We have a defense to provide for our national security. Fortunately, the jobs that are provided through defense are good jobs. With the cuts that we have had in our defense, a lot of those jobs have gone away, and our defense has been weakened. Colleagues, we have had a vigorous debate on this measure. This bill was marked up by six different subcommittees, then the full Armed Services Committee considered the legislation. One hundred ninety-five amendments were offered during our markup alone, 95 by Democrats and 100 by Republicans. We adopted 154 of those, and the bill passed out of committee with unanimous support, 61-0. Then we moved the bill to the floor following regular order. One hundred sixty-nine more amendments were made in order, 39 bipartisan amendments, 57 by Democrats, and 73 by Republicans. Nobody can say we haven't had ample opportunity to consider everybody's ideas, discuss them, and vote. To everyone, I say thank you for your help, your support. It is important to get this 53rd consecutive NDAA passed because of the important authorities that are in the bill. Let's oppose this motion to recommit and pass the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 4435, including corrections in spelling, punctuation, section and title numbering, cross-referencing, conforming amendments to the table of contents and short titles, and the insertion of appropriate headings, and that the amendatory instructions for amendment No. 35 be changed from ``after line 21'' to ``after line 9.''

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I submit the following. House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, May 9, 2014. Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, 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. However, this decision in no way diminishes or alters 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. 4435 on the House floor. Sincerely, Edward R. Royce, Chairman.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 590, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I urge the committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by both the majority and the minority. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Rigell), my friend and colleague, who is a member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), my friend and colleague and a member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. McKEON. Will the gentleman yield?