[House Report 114-410]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 114-410
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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.