Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to construing provisions of law as having been enacted pursuant to the power of Congress to lay and collect taxes.

Mr. Chair, I would like to submit the following exchange of letters:

House of Representatives,

Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC, May 4, 2011.

Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,

Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Rayburn House

Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McKeon: I write to you regarding H.R. 1540,

the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

I am aware that there are certain provisions in the

legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the

Committee on Homeland Security.

In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed

expeditiously with consideration of this important

legislation, I am waiving the Committee on Homeland

Security's jurisdiction pertaining to a sequential referral.

However, I do so with the understanding that the committee's

jurisdictional claims over subject matters contained in this

and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered.

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.

1540 and into the Congressional Record during consideration

of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for your

consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Peter T. King,

Chairman.