Lamar Smith: “I submit the following exchange of letters regarding H.R. 4119. May 15, 2012. Hon. Lamar Smith, Chairman, Committee on…”

“I submit the following exchange of letters regarding H.R. 4119. May 15, 2012. Hon. Lamar Smith, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Smith, On March 21, 2012, the Committee on the Judiciary reported H.R. 4119, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012, as amended, favorably to the House. The Committee on Ways and Means received an additional referral on the bill as a result of section 5(b) dealing with civil asset forfeiture, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. As a result of your Committee's agreement to remove section 5(b) of the bill, I agree to discharge the Committee on Ways and Means from further consideration of the bill so that a suspension version, incorporating the amendments to which we have agreed, may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4119 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in section 5(b) in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved if that provision moves forward in any legislation so that we may address any issues that arise and fall within our Rule X jurisdiction.…”