59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–410 

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 


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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, 


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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. 


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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. 

Æ 


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