February 27, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 36 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H2272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico:
       H.R. 1405.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       The Congress has the power to enact this legislation 
     pursuant to Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the U.S. 
     Constitution (as amended by Article XIV, Clause 2), which 
     provides:
       Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among 
     the several States which may be included within this Union, 
     according to their respective Numbers, [. . .]. The actual 
     Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first 
     Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within 
     every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they 
     shall by Law direct. [. . .]
       The Congress also has the power to enact this legislation 
     pursuant to Article I, Section 8, Clauses 1 and 18 of the 
     U.S. Constitution, which provide as follows:
       The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, 
     Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for 
     the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; 
     but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform 
     throughout the United States; [. . .]--And
       To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for 
     carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other 
     Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the 
     United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
       In addition, the Congress also has the power to enact this 
     legislation pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, which 
     provides, in relevant part, as follows:
       The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all 
     needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or 
     other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in 
     this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any 
     Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.