[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7814-S7821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the clerk will
report.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 2016) making appropriations for military
construction, family housing, and base realignment and
closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1998, and for other purposes.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported
from the Committee on Appropriations, with amendments; as follows:
(The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in
italic.)
H.R. 2016
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1998, for military construction, family
housing, and base realignment and closure functions
administered by the Department of Defense, and for other
purposes, namely:
Military Construction, Army
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military
installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as
currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Army
Corps of Engineers and other personal services necessary for
the purposes of this appropriation, and for construction and
operation of facilities in support of the functions of the
Commander in Chief, [$721,027,000] $652,046,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2002: Provided, That of this
amount, not to exceed [$71,577,000] $77,646,000 shall be
available for study, planning, design, architect and engineer
services, and host nation support, as authorized by law,
unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
his determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Navy
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations,
facilities, and real property for the Navy as currently
authorized by law, including personnel in the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command and other personal services
necessary for the purposes of this appropriation,
[$685,306,000] $605,756,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2002: Provided, That of this amount, not to
exceed [$46,659,000] $46,489,000 shall be available for
study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, as
authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense determines
that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress of his determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Air Force
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, military
installations, facilities, and real property for the Air
Force as currently authorized by law, [$662,305,000]
$662,305,000, to remain available until September 30, 2002:
Provided, That of this amount, not to exceed [$45,880,000]
$48,880,000 shall be available for study, planning, design,
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless
the Secretary of Defense determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
his determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Defense-wide
(including transfer of funds)
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment
of temporary or permanent public works, installations,
facilities, and real property for activities and agencies of
the Department of Defense (other than the military
departments), as currently authorized by law, [$613,333,000]
$690,889,000, to remain available until September 30, 2002:
Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation as may be
determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to
such appropriations of the Department of Defense available
for military construction or family housing as he may
designate, to be merged with and to be available for the same
purposes, and for the same time period, as the
[[Page S7815]]
appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further,
That of the amount appropriated, not to exceed [$34,350,000]
$52,450,000 shall be available for study, planning, design,
architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless
the Secretary of Defense determines that additional
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of
his determination and the reasons therefor.
Military Construction, Army National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Army National Guard, and contributions
therefor, as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United
States Code, and military construction authorization Acts,
[$45,098,000] $234,614,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2002.
Military Construction, Air National Guard
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Air National Guard, and contributions
therefor, as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United
States Code, and military construction authorization Acts,
[$137,275,000] $185,115,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2002.
Military Construction, Army Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter
133 of title 10, United States Code, and military
construction authorization Acts, [$77,731,000] $96,079,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2002.
Military Construction, Naval Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the reserve components of the Navy and
Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 133 of title 10, United
States Code, and military construction authorization Acts,
[$40,561,000] $21,111,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2002.
Military Construction, Air Force Reserve
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation,
and conversion of facilities for the training and
administration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by
chapter 133 of title 10, United States Code, and military
construction authorization Acts, [$27,143,000] $31,830,000,
to remain available until September 30, 2002.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Security Investment Program
For the United States share of the cost of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for
the acquisition and construction of military facilities and
installations (including international military headquarters)
and for related expenses for the collective defense of the
North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized in military
construction authorization Acts and section 2806 of title 10,
United States Code, [$166,300,000] $152,600,000, to remain
available until expended.
Family Housing, Army
For expenses of family housing for the Army for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition,
expansion, extension and alteration and for operation and
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance
premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction,
[$202,131,000] $167,100,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2002; for Operation and Maintenance, and for
debt payment, [$1,148,937,000] $1,149,937,000; in all
[$1,351,068,000] $1,317,037,000.
Family Housing, Navy and Marine Corps
For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine
Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement,
addition, expansion, extension and alteration and for
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing,
minor construction, principal and interest charges, and
insurance premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for
Construction, [$409,178,000] $362,619,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2002; for Operation and
Maintenance, and for debt payment, $976,504,000; in all
[$1,385,682,000] $1,339,123,000.
Family Housing, Air Force
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition,
expansion, extension and alteration and for operation and
maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor
construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance
premiums, as authorized by law, as follows: for Construction,
[$341,409,000] $296,633,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2002; for Operation and Maintenance, and for
debt payment, $830,234,000; in all [$1,171,643,000]
$1,126,867,000.
Family Housing, Defense-wide
For expenses of family housing for the activities and
agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the
military departments) for construction, including
acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension and
alteration, and for operation and maintenance, leasing, and
minor construction, as authorized by law, as follows: for
Construction, $4,950,000, to remain available until September
30, 2002; for Operation and Maintenance, $32,724,000; in all
$37,674,000.
Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part II
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the
Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law
101-510), $116,754,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That not more than $105,224,000 of the funds
appropriated herein shall be available solely for
environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons
therefor.
Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part III
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the
Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law
101-510), $768,702,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That not more than $398,499,000 of the funds
appropriated herein shall be available solely for
environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons
therefor.
Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure
Account 1990 established by section 2906(a)(1) of the
Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1991 (Public Law
101-510), $1,175,398,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That not more than $353,604,000 of the funds
appropriated herein shall be available solely for
environmental restoration, unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that additional obligations are necessary for such
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of
both Houses of Congress of his determination and the reasons
therefor.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 101. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts shall be expended for
payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for work,
where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be performed within
the United States, except Alaska, without the specific
approval in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth
the reasons therefor: Provided, That the foregoing shall not
apply in the case of contracts for environmental restoration
at an installation that is being closed or realigned where
payments are made from a Base Realignment and Closure
Account.
Sec. 102. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction shall be available for hire of passenger
motor vehicles.
Sec. 103. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction may be used for advances to the Federal
Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, for the
construction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of
title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized
therein are certified as important to the national defense by
the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 104. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be
used to begin construction of new bases inside the
continental United States for which specific appropriations
have not been made.
Sec. 105. No part of the funds provided in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts shall be used for purchase
of land or land easements in excess of 100 per centum of the
value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except (1) where there
is a determination of value by a Federal court, or (2)
purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or his designee,
or (3) where the estimated value is less than $25,000, or (4)
as otherwise determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in
the public interest.
Sec. 106. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts shall be used to (1) acquire
land, (2) provide for site preparation, or (3) install
utilities for any family housing, except housing for which
funds have been made available in annual Military
Construction Appropriations Acts.
Sec. 107. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts for minor construction may
be used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or
installation to another, without prior notification to the
Committees on Appropriations.
Sec. 108. No part of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts may be used for the
procurement of steel for any construction project or activity
for which American steel producers, fabricators, and
manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for
such steel procurement.
Sec. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of
Defense for military construction or family housing during
the current fiscal year may be used to pay real property
taxes in any foreign nation.
Sec. 110. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts may be used to initiate a
new installation overseas without prior notification to the
Committees on Appropriations.
Sec. 111. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts
[[Page S7816]]
may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts
estimated by the Government to exceed $500,000 for projects
to be accomplished in Japan, in any NATO member country, or
in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such
contracts are awarded to United States firms or United States
firms in joint venture with host nation firms.
Sec. 112. None of the funds appropriated in Military
Construction Appropriations Acts for military construction in
the United States territories and possessions in the Pacific
and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian
Gulf, may be used to award any contract estimated by the
Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor:
Provided, That this section shall not be applicable to
contract awards for which the lowest responsive and
responsible bid of a United States contractor exceeds the
lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor
by greater than 20 per centum: Provided further, That this
section shall not apply to contract awards for military
construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest
responsive and responsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese
contractor.
Sec. 113. The Secretary of Defense is to inform the
appropriate Committees of Congress, including the Committees
on Appropriations, of the plans and scope of any proposed
military exercise involving United States personnel thirty
days prior to its occurring, if amounts expended for
construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated
to exceed $100,000.
Sec. 114. Not more than 20 per centum of the appropriations
in Military Construction Appropriations Acts which are
limited for obligation during the current fiscal year shall
be obligated during the last two months of the fiscal year.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 115. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
for construction in prior years shall be available for
construction authorized for each such military department by
the authorizations enacted into law during the current
session of Congress.
Sec. 116. For military construction or family housing
projects that are being completed with funds otherwise
expired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may
be used to pay the cost of associated supervision,
inspection, overhead, engineering and design on those
projects and on subsequent claims, if any.
Sec. 117. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
funds appropriated to a military department or defense agency
for the construction of military projects may be obligated
for a military construction project or contract, or for any
portion of such a project or contract, at any time before the
end of the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal year for which
funds for such project were appropriated if the funds
obligated for such project (1) are obligated from funds
available for military construction projects, and (2) do not
exceed the amount appropriated for such project, plus any
amount by which the cost of such project is increased
pursuant to law.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 118. During the five-year period after appropriations
available to the Department of Defense for military
construction and family housing operation and maintenance and
construction have expired for obligation, upon a
determination that such appropriations will not be necessary
for the liquidation of obligations or for making authorized
adjustments to such appropriations for obligations incurred
during the period of availability of such appropriations,
unobligated balances of such appropriations may be
transferred into the appropriation ``Foreign Currency
Fluctuations, Construction, Defense'' to be merged with and
to be available for the same time period and for the same
purposes as the appropriation to which transferred.
Sec. 119. The Secretary of Defense is to provide the
Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of
Representatives with an annual report by February 15,
containing details of the specific actions proposed to be
taken by the Department of Defense during the current fiscal
year to encourage other member nations of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, Japan, Korea, and United States allies
bordering the Arabian Gulf to assume a greater share of the
common defense burden of such nations and the United States.
(transfer of funds)
Sec. 120. During the current fiscal year, in addition to
any other transfer authority available to the Department of
Defense, proceeds deposited to the Department of Defense Base
Closure Account established by section 207(a)(1) of the
Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and
Realignment Act (Public Law 100-526) pursuant to section
207(a)(2)(C) of such Act, may be transferred to the account
established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of
Defense Authorization Act, 1991, to be merged with, and to be
available for the same purposes and the same time period as
that account.
[Sec. 121. No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may
be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in
expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections
2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c,
popularly known as the ``Buy American Act'').
[Sec. 122. (a) In the case of any equipment or products
that may be authorized to be purchased with financial
assistance provided under this Act, it is the sense of the
Congress that entities receiving such assistance should, in
expending the assistance, purchase only American-made
equipment and products.
[(b) In providing financial assistance under this Act, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to each recipient of
the assistance a notice describing the statement made in
subsection (a) by the Congress.
[(transfer of funds)
[Sec. 123. During the current fiscal year, in addition to
any other transfer authority available to the Department of
Defense, amounts may be transferred from the account
established by section 2906(a)(1) of the Department of
Defense Authorization Act, 1991, to the fund established by
section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan
Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses
associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program. Any
amounts transferred shall be merged with and be available for
the same purposes and for the same time period as the fund to
which transferred.]
Sec. 124. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
appropriations made available to the Department of Defense
Family Housing Improvement Fund shall be the sole source of
funds available for planning, administrative, and oversight
costs incurred by the Department of Defense relating to
military family housing initiatives and military
unaccompanied housing initiatives undertaken pursuant to the
provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169, title 10, United
States Code, pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and
improving military family housing, military unaccompanied
housing, and supporting facilities.
Sec. 125. (a) In addition to any reductions required by
this Act, the following funds are hereby reduced from the
following accounts in this Act in the specified amounts--
``Military Construction, Army'', $2,000,000;
``Military Construction, Navy'', $3,000,000;
``Military Construction, Air Force'', $4,000,000;
``Military Construction, Defense-wide'', $5,000,000;
``NATO Security Investment Program'', $1,000,000;
``Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part III'',
$8,000,000;
``Base Realignment and Closure Account, Part IV'',
$8,000,000.
(b) The reductions taken pursuant to subsection (a) shall
be applied on a pro-rata basis by project and activity.
Sec. 126. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from
the funds appropriated in this Act for Military Construction,
Army, the Secretary of the Army is directed to complete,
using an Unspecified Minor Construction project, the Special
Forces (Diver) Training Facility at Key West Naval Air
Station, Florida, as authorized in the Military Construction
Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Public Law
101-189).
Sec. 127. (a) Lease of Property Authorized.--(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of
the Navy (hereinafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') may
lease, without monetary consideration, to the city and county
of Honolulu (hereinafter referred to as the ``city'') a
parcel of land consisting of approximately 300 acres on
Waipio Peninsula, Honolulu, Hawaii (hereinafter referred to
as the ``parcel'').
(b) Related Easement.--The Secretary may also grant,
without monetary consideration, an easement on, over, under
and across that certain real property known as Waipio Point
Access Road for access to and operation of the parcel.
(c) Term.--The term of the lease and easement authorized
under this section shall be fifty (50) years.
(d) Condition of Use.--The lease and easement authorized
under subsections (a) and (b) shall be subject to the
following conditions:
(1) The city shall use the parcel for development and
operation of a public soccer park and related recreational
facilities, and for other civic and public purposes as may be
approved by the Secretary.
(2) Facilities developed on the parcel shall be for public
use and benefit; however, usage fees may be charged to defray
facility operating and maintenance costs.
(3) The city shall comply with all explosive safety
criteria affecting the city's use of the lease and easement
areas, as established by the Secretary in connection with the
explosive safety areas supporting the ordinance handling
wharves located at West Loch Branch, Naval Magazine,
Lualualei, Hawaii.
(4) The city shall, at its own cost and to the satisfaction
of the Secretary, make any and all improvements to Waipio
Point Access Road which the city determines are necessary to
provide onstreet parking along said road, and adequate access
to the parcel, including, but not limited to, any necessary
appurtenant utility and drainage improvements. During the
term of said easement, the cost of maintenance, repair and
replacement of said road and improvements shall be borne by
the city.
(5) The city shall install a non-potable irrigation water
delivery system to service the parcel, and in doing so, the
city shall size transmission lines capable of delivering
approximately 2.5 million additional gallons of irrigation
water per day to agricultural lands on Waipio Peninsula under
the control of the Secretary.
(e) Termination.--If the Secretary determines at any time
that the parcel is not being used for a purpose specified in
subsection (d)(1), the lease and easement authorized under
subsections (a) and (b) may be terminated, and all
[[Page S7817]]
right, title, and interest in and to such real property,
including any improvements thereon, shall revert to the
United States, and the United States shall have the right of
immediate entry thereon.
(f) Effect of Expiration of Lease.--Unless otherwise
specifically provided for in this section, at the end of the
lease and easement term, the city shall either convey,
without reimbursement, to the United States, all right,
title, and interest of the city in and to the improvements
subject to said lease and easement, or restore, to the extent
practicable, the lease and easement areas to the satisfaction
of the Secretary.
(g) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal
description of the property subject to this section shall be
determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. The
cost of such survey shall be borne by the city.
(h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may
require such additional terms and conditions in connection
with the lease and easement to be granted under this section
as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the
interests of the United States.
Sec. 128. (a) Not later than 60 days before issuing any
solicitation for a contract with the private sector for
military family housing or military unaccompanied housing,
the Secretary of the military department concerned shall
submit to the congressional defense committees the notice
described in subsection (b).
(b)(1) A notice referred to in subsection (a) is a notice
of any guarantee (including the making of mortgage or rental
payments) proposed to be made by the Secretary to the private
party under the contract involved in the event of--
(A) the closure or realignment of the installation for
which housing is provided under the contract;
(B) a reduction in force of units stationed at such
installation; or
(C) the extended deployment overseas of units stationed at
such installation.
(2) Each notice under this subsection shall specify the
nature of the guarantee involved and assess the extent and
likelihood, if any, of the liability of the Federal
Government with respect to the guarantee.
(c) In this section, the term ``congressional defense
committees'' means the following:
(1) The Committee on Armed Services and the Defense
Subcommittee, Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) The Committee on National Security and The National
Security Subcommittee, Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.
This Act may be cited as the ``Military Construction
Appropriations Act, 1998''.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, each manager will
have control of 10 minutes for debate time followed by a rollcall vote.
The Senator from Montana.
Privilege of the Floor
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Kelly
Hartline, an Appropriations Committee staff member, be granted the
privilege of the floor during consideration of this bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Montana.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am pleased to bring before the Senate the
military construction appropriation bill and report for fiscal year
1998. This bill reflects the bipartisan approach that the ranking
member, Senator Murray of Washington, and I have tried to maintain
regarding military construction and this subcommittee. It has been a
pleasure to work with Senator Murray, her staff, and the members of the
subcommittee throughout this process. I very much appreciate all of
their support.
Mr. President, this bill was reported out of the full Appropriations
Committee last Thursday by a unanimous vote of 28 to 0. The bill
recommended by the full Committee on Appropriations is for
$9,182,900,000. This is $799 million over the budget request and almost
equal to the corresponding House bill. The bill provides $610 million
less than what was appropriated last year--a reduction of 6 percent in
overall spending authority for the committee from fiscal year 1997.
Further, the bill reflects a reduction of 21 percent since fiscal year
1996--almost $2 billion less from just 2 years ago.
We have sought to recommend a balanced bill to the Senate, and we
believe it addresses key, military construction requirements for
readiness, family housing, barracks, quality of life and the Guard and
Reserve components. This bill honors the commitment we have to our
Armed Forces. It helps ensure that the housing and infrastructure needs
of the military are given proper recognition. Also, I am pleased to
report to the Senate that the bill is within the committee's 602(b)
budget allocation for both budget authority and outlays.
Mr. President, this bill has some points I want to mention. We added
$152 million to provide better and more modern family housing for our
service personnel and their families. On another quality of life
measure, we have added substantially to the budget request for medical
and hospital facilities, increasing the request by almost 50 percent.
We have provided $660 million for barracks construction to provide
single service members a more favorable living environment. The
committee also fully funds the budget request of $104 million for
funding 24 class I violation environmental projects.
We also addressed the shortfalls that continue to plaque our Reserve
components. The Department continues to walk away from the total force
concept. Recognizing this, we have again lent support by adding $395
million to the Guard and Reserve accounts. In each case, the funds will
help satisfy essential mission, quality of life or readiness
requirements.
Mr. President, 22 percent of the bill, or $2.1 billion, is for
downsizing defense infrastructure, or better known as the Base
Realignment and Closure Program. This includes funding for the last
three rounds of BRAC. Almost a quarter of all military construction
dollars goes toward the base closure and realignment process.
All of the projects that we have recommended are included in either
the Senate- or House-passed versions of the defense authorization
bills. We will work very closely with the Armed Services Committee, as
we put together a conference package for military construction.
We have tried to accommodate the sizable administration request for
overseas projects in such places as Korea, Germany, and the Middle
East. Mr. President, 24 percent of the administration's budget request
for military construction projects is for overseas areas. This seems
out of proportion when only about 16 percent of our total force is
actually stationed overseas. We have funded only the essential of those
projects.
We are also concerned about the recent decision made at Madrid to
expand NATO and the additional costs required to implement that
decision. With future defense spending constrained, this expansion has
the potential to degrade the U.S. military construction and defense
program seriously. I have requested a detailed report that lays out the
additional funding requirements associated with the expansion,
including logistical, communications, construction and other needs
anticipated for the NATO infrastructure account. This will help us
understand the potential costs to the U.S. taxpayer of NATO expansion.
There are many other issues that I could speak about at this time. I
urge the Members of the Senate to support this bill and move it forward
expeditiously.
I would say, also, we are finding in the BRAC, or base closures, that
we are spending dollars that were unexpected just in environmental
cleanup. The environmental cost of cleanup of these bases so they could
be moved into either contract hands or private hands has been very,
very high.
So I appreciate my ranking member, the work she has done, and now I
yield to my ranking member, Senator Murray.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am pleased to recommend this bill to
the Senate. The recommended amount, $9.18 billion, is within the 602(b)
allocation for the Military Construction Subcommittee and is frugal,
some $600 million, or 6 percent below last year's appropriated level.
Nevertheless, we have added nearly $800 million to the amount
requested by the administration, primarily to correct serious
shortfalls in the budget request for National Guard and Reserve forces,
and for quality-of-life initiatives in housing and medical care for
U.S. military personnel.
In order to keep our Guard and Reserve forces healthy, we have again,
as in the past, had to add substantial sums, some $392 million, to an
inadequate request.
As for housing, we have added approximately $152 million for family
housing, and despite this increase, we are still about $301 million
below last year's level. The added funds, however, are in the new area
of housing initiatives known as privatization, whereby
[[Page S7818]]
the money acts as seed capital which is multiplied over some three or
four times with infusions of private developer funds, so the funds we
have added carry an added punch.
On another quality-of-life measure, we have added substantially to
the request for medical and hospital facilities, increasing the request
by nearly 50 percent, for a total of $208 million.
These initiatives have been put together in a truly bipartisan
fashion, in close cooperation with the distinguished chairman, Senator
Burns and his staff. It is a good product, worthy of strong Senate
support. I appreciate the courtesies that have been extended to me by
the chairman and his staff, and believe this close working relationship
has created a product which is balanced and fair to all Senators.
We appropriated money for nearly all the projects authorized by the
Senate Armed Services Committee, and have attempted to evaluate and
satisfy the requests of all members fairly, and fund worthy projects,
through design or minor construction if they have not been authorized.
We have made every effort to include report language that members have
suggested to us.
We fully funded the BRAC request, some 22 percent of the bill, fully
funded environmental projects, and we have tried to accommodate the
sizable construction request for overseas projects, such as barracks in
Europe and Korea. Overseas construction constitutes 24 percent of the
overall construction request.
The committee is concerned over the amounts that will be needed for
additional costs of NATO expansion, based on the decisions at the
Madrid summit, and for the funds requested for Southwest Asia
propositioning of equipment in the nation of Qatar. We have asked for a
report on NATO expansion costs by mid-October, hopefully in time for
the Senate debate on this matter.
We have also asked the administration to execute a burdensharing
agreement with the Government of Qatar, whose population of 550,000
people enjoy a $21,000 per capita income and has, in fact, offered to
help defray our expenses in our prepositioning program.
This legislation is extremely important to our military personnel for
many reasons. One of the most important for me is the messages we are
able to send our active duty personnel serving abroad separated from
family. We are providing for families--housing, day care, community
support facilities--providing for families so our active duty personnel
can focus on the task at hand when serving a tour on the U.S.S. Lincoln
or patrolling near the DMZ in Korea.
I am particularly pleased the committee was able to fund several
authorized projects in Washington State. At Fairchild Air Force Base,
we were able to meet the base's priority need for alterations to the
fire station and provide moneys for an education center and a library.
The committee was able to provide moneys for barracks replacement and a
medical/dental clinic at Fort Lewis, and important C-17 facilities at
McChord Air Force Base. I do appreciate the committee's willingness to
be responsive to the needs of Washington State.
I, again, thank the chairman for his help in making this a truly
bipartisan bill, and I commend staff on both sides of the aisle for
their outstanding professional work on this legislation. I join
Chairman Burns in recommending that the Senate adopt this legislation
with strong bipartisan support.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time?
Mr. BURNS addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
Amendment No. 946
(Purpose: To clarify the availability of funds for activities under the
lease of building No. 1, Lexington, Blue Grass Station, Lexington, KY)
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf
of Senators Ford and McConnell.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
The bill clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Montana [Mr. Burns], for Mr. Ford, for
himself and Mr. McConnell, proposes an amendment numbered
946.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:
Sec. . Section 303(e) of the 1997 Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters, and
for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia
(Public Law 105-18; 111 Stat. 168) is amended to read as
follows:
``(e) Availability of Funds.--The Secretary may use funds
available in the Defense Working Capital Fund for the payment
of the costs of utilities, maintenance and repair, and
improvements entered into under the lease under this
section.''.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, this amendment will clarify the
availability of what specific funding sources are available for
activities under the lease of facilities at Lexington, Blue Grass
Station, KY. I believe this amendment has been cleared.
Mrs. MURRAY. Yes, it has.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I do not believe I have seen the
amendment. I ask that action on it be suspended until such time as I,
or my staff, have had a chance to examine the amendment.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Mr. McCAIN addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
Privilege of the Floor
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Ron
Moranville, a fellow on my staff, be granted the privilege of the floor
during the remainder of debate on H.R. 2016.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, for 3 straight years now, the Clinton
administration has inadequately funded the national security interests
of this Nation. In response, Congress added slightly more than $20
billion to the defense budget for fiscal years 1996 to 1998, arguing
that future readiness would be put at risk if we did not increase
funding for military modernization.
We did add significant funds to the procurement and R&D accounts to
ensure that our forces would maintain their current technological edge
over potential adversaries well into the future. At the same time,
however, we managed to set aside more than 10 percent of the total
defense budget add-on over these 3 years, about $2.3 billion for
unrequested low-priority military construction projects.
This year, we added only $2.6 billion to the defense budget, much
less than in each of the previous years, but then the Appropriations
Committee earmarked $800 million of that increase for military
construction add-ons. Almost one-third of the total defense budget
increase this year is unrequested and unnecessary.
This military construction bill before the Senate today contains
funding for unrequested low-priority projects totaling more than $799
million. These projects were added because Members of this body asked
for them. The services did not ask for them. The Department of Defense
did not ask for them. But Members wanted funding for these projects in
their States, and the Appropriations Committee gave it to them.
I note that the bill sets aside almost $400 million of the overall
increase for construction projects for the National Guard and Reserves.
The bill includes over $111 million for the construction of 13
readiness and Reserve centers for the Guard and Reserve, at a time when
Guard and Reserve end strength is being cut by over 54,000 personnel.
I wonder what decisionmaking process was used to determine that the
priorities of the Guard and Reserve for military construction so
greatly outweigh the priorities of the active duty military. This bill
gives the Army National Guard a 500-percent increase in project
funding, or $189.5 million in unrequested projects. This decision was
made by the committee despite the fact that the Army and the Army Guard
agreed that the Guard's military construction requirements needed about
$50 million. I wonder what criteria were used to determine that $50
million was not enough for the Guard and Reserve and how the add-on of
$189.5 million was determined.
I understand that last year the Appropriations Committee directed the
Army to budget $75 million from Army Guard military construction in
fiscal
[[Page S7819]]
year 1998. I also understand that the Army failed to follow the
committee's direction and request only $45 million for the Army Guard
military construction budget. Does this then justify a 500-percent
increase in Army Guard construction funding?
In addition to the excessive amount of add-ons in this bill, the
report contains earmarks for the following projects: $1.4 million to
provide refrigeration equipment and improvements at the Fort
Wainwright, AK, skating facility; $300,000 for the design of a
centralized vehicle wash facility at Fort Wainwright, AK; $2 million
for the design of the Saddle Road improvement in Hawaii; $550,000 for a
library and adult education center at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,
NC; $3.1 million for planning and design of an intelligence center in
Charlottesville, VA; $470,000 for design of a warfighting center at the
Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
I find it startling that Members are no longer content with
earmarking actual construction projects. We now have begun the
unfortunate process of earmarking portions of the planning and design
money which has traditionally been provided in a lump sum to be used at
the discretion and prioritization of the services.
Where will this earmarking stop? I note, without further comment, the
five States receiving the largest share of these construction add-ons:
Mississippi, $58.4 million; Virginia, $48.1 million; Alabama, $37
million; Kentucky, $33.1 million; and New Mexico, $32.3 million. This
bill even includes an add-on for Arizona.
Finally, I point out that this bill, like many others that have come
before the Senate in the past week, contains restrictive Buy America
provisions which limit awards of contracts to U.S. companies only.
These two sections, 111 and 112, of the bill are anticompetitive and
will ensure that U.S. taxpayers do not get the best price, in many
instances, because foreign firms will not be able to compete with U.S.
companies.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate add-ons in the
military construction bill list be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
SENATE ADD-ONS TO THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In millions
State and installation Project title Budget -----------------------
request Change Appropriated
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama:
Redstone Arsenal...................... Missile ENG Annex................... 0 $27.0 $27.0
Dannelly Field........................ Munitions Complex................... 0 4.8 4.8
Maxwell AFB........................... Aircfaft Maint Facility............. 0 5.2 5.2
Alaska:
Elmendorf AFB......................... Electrical System Upgrade........... 0 6.1 6.1
Eielson AFB........................... Potable Water Storage............... 0 6.0 6.0
Bethel \1\ \2\........................ OPS Facility........................ 0 4.6 4.6
Arizona: Papago Military Res \1\........ Support Maint Shop.................. 0 11.0 11.0
Arkansas: Little Rock................... Control Tower....................... 0 3.4 3.4
California: Pasadena \1\................ Marine Corps Reserve Center......... 0 6.7 6.7
Colorado:
Fort Carson........................... Mates Expansion..................... 0 2.9 2.9
Greeley............................... Mobile Ground Maint Complex......... 0 4.7 4.7
Connecticut:
New London............................ Child Development Center............ 0 3.7 3.7
New London............................ Fire Protection System.............. 0 1.6 1.6
Delaware: New Castle Airport \1\........ Squadron OPS Facility............... 0 7.0 7.0
Florida:
Eglin AFB Aux Field................... Assault Strip Runway................ 0 5.1 5.1
Ellyson Field \1\..................... Readines Center..................... 0 3.8 3.8
Eglin AFB Aux Field \1\............... Renovate Visiting Quarters.......... 0 7.3 7.3
Georgia: Moody AFB...................... HH60 Rescue OPS Facility............ 0 6.8 6.8
Hawaii:
Fort Derussey......................... Asian Pacific Center................ 0 9.5 9.5
Pearl Harbor.......................... Seal Delivey System Facility........ 0 7.4 7.4
Hickman AFB \1\....................... Maint Complex....................... 0 4.5 4.5
Bellows AFB \1\ \2\................... Training Facility................... 0 5.2 5.2
Idaho:
Mt Home AFB........................... B-1B Avionics Building.............. 0 9.2 9.2
Mt Home AFB........................... F-15 Squadron OPS Facility.......... 0 3.8 3.8
Gowen Field \1\....................... Aviation Readiness Center........... 0 3.7 3.7
Boise Airport \1\..................... C-130 Squadron OPS.................. 0 8.8 8.8
Indiana:
Hulman Reg Airport \1\................ Fire Station........................ 0 5.4 5.4
Fort Wayne IAP \1\.................... Medical Trng Facility............... 0 5.9 5.9
Kansas:
McConnell AFB......................... KC-135 Squadron OPS................. 0 9.7 9.7
McConnell AFB......................... Transportation Complex.............. 0 2.9 2.9
McConnell AFB \1\..................... Maint Shop.......................... 0 2.0 2.0
Kentucky:
Fort Knox............................. Training Range...................... 0 7.2 7.2
Greenville \1\........................ Training Range...................... 0 9.3 9.3
Fort Campbell \2\..................... Equipment Shop...................... 0 9.9 9.9
Fort Campbell......................... Education Center.................... 0 6.7 6.7
Louisiana: Camp Beauregard \1\.......... Machine Gun Range................... 0 1.3 1.3
Maine: Bangor IAP \1\................... Upgrade Base Facilities............. 0 6.5 6.5
Maryland: Annapolis \1\................. Readiness Center.................... 0 2.9 2.9
Massachusetts: Barnes ANGB \1\.......... Dining Hall/Fitness Center.......... 0 3.0 3.0
Michigan:
Augusta \1\........................... Readiness Center.................... 0 6.4 6.4
Selfridge AGB \1\..................... Vehicle Maint/Comm Complex.......... 0 9.0 9.0
Walker \1\............................ Readiness Center.................... 0 9.4 9.4
Mississippi:
Gulfport NCBC Base.................... Bachelor Enlisted Qrts.............. 0 22.4 22.4
Miss Army Ammun Plt................... OPS and Maint Facility.............. 0 9.9 9.9
Senatobia \1\......................... Readiness Center.................... 0 4.4 4.4
Key Field \1\......................... KC-135 SIM Training Center.......... 0 2.0 2.0
Key Field \1\......................... Dining Hall......................... 0 3.2 3.2
Nas Meridian.......................... Bachelor Enlisted Quarters.......... 0 7.0 7.0
Gulfport-Biloxi \1\................... Training Quarters................... 0 9.5 9.5
Missouri: Macon \1\..................... Armory.............................. 0 3.2 3.2
Montana:
Malstrom AFB.......................... Dining Facility..................... 0 4.5 4.5
Billings \1\.......................... Reserve Center...................... 0 14.6 14.6
Nevada:
Nellis AFB............................ Land Acquisition.................... 0 5.9 5.9
Reno/Tahoe IAP \1\.................... C-130 Training Facility............. 0 2.9 2.9
Nebraska: Offutt AFB.................... Dormitories......................... 0 6.9 6.9
New Mexico:
Kirtland AFB.......................... Simulation Training Facility........ 0 14.0 14.0
Kirtland AFB.......................... Bridge.............................. 0 6.3 6.3
Cannon AFB............................ F-16 Missile Maint Shop............. 0 2.9 2.9
Taos \1\.............................. Readiness Center.................... 0 3.2 3.2
Kirtland AFB \1\...................... Squadron OPS Facility............... 0 2.8 2.8
Kirtland AFB \1\...................... Composite Support Facility.......... 0 3.1 3.1
[[Page S7820]]
New York:
Grabeski Airport \1\.................. Vehicle Maint Complex............... 0 4.3 4.3
Niagara Falls IAP \1\................. Training Facility................... 0 2.1 2.1
North Carolina:
Fort Bragg............................ Mout Training Complex............... 0 7.7 7.7
Fort Bragg............................ Medical Training Barracks........... 0 8.3 8.3
North Dakota: Minot AFB................. Fire/Crash Rescue Station........... 0 5.2 5.2
Ohio:
Wright-Patterson...................... Management Complex.................. 0 22.0 22.0
Rickenbacker ANGB \1\................. Fuel/Corrosion Control Facility..... 0 5.7 5.7
Springfield-Beckley Map \1\........... Base Supply Complex................. 0 4.4 4.4
Oklahoma:
Altus AFB............................. Land Purchase....................... 0 11.0 11.0
Vance AFB............................. Base Engineering Complex............ 0 7.7 7.7
Will Rogers Airpot \1\................ Aeromedical Training Facility....... 0 3.1 3.1
Fort Sill............................. Barracks Renewal.................... 0 8.0 8.0
Oregon: Salem \1\....................... Reserve Center...................... 0 11.8 11.8
Pennsylvania: Oakdale \1\............... Reserve Center...................... 0 24.9 24.9
South Carolina:
Leesburg Training Site \1\............ Simultation Center.................. 0 3.8 3.8
McEntire AGS \1\...................... Fuel/Corrosion Control Facility..... 0 7.0 7.0
South Dakota:
Ellsworth AFB......................... Fire/Crash Rescue Station........... 0 6.6 6.6
Rapid City \1\........................ Aviation Support Facility........... 0 5.2 5.2
Texas:
Dyess AFB............................. B-1B Squadron OPS................... 0 10.0 10.0
Rapid City \1\........................ Aviation Support Facility........... 0 12.8 12.8
Utah: Fort Douglas \1\.................. USARC & OMS......................... 0 12.7 12.7
Vermont: Camp Johnson \1\............... Maint Shop.......................... 0 6.7 6.7
Virginia:
Norfolk NS............................ Berthing Pier....................... 0 13.5 13.5
Portsmouth Hospital................... Hospital Replacement................ 0 34.6 34.6
Washington:
Fairchild AFB......................... Fire Station........................ 0 4.8 4.8
Fairchild AFB......................... Education Center.................... 0 8.2 8.2
Fairchild AFB......................... Training Academy.................... 0 3.7 3.7
Fort Lewis............................ Medical Clinic...................... 0 5.0 5.0
West Virginia: Camp Dawson \1\.......... Readiness Center.................... 0 6.8 6.8
Wisconsin: Mitchel ARS \1\.............. Aerial Training Facility............ 0 4.2 4.2
Wyoming: Camp Guernsey \1\.............. Vehicle Maint Shop.................. 0 13.9 13.9
---------------------------------
42 Unrequested Active Duty Milcon Add-Ons Totaling...................... ........
(1)382.9
50 Unrequested Reserve/Guard Milcon Add-Ons Totaling.................... ........
(1)299.5
92 Unrequested U.S. Based Milcon Add-Ons Totaling....................... ........
(1)681.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Denotes Reserve/National Guard Construction Projects.
\2\ Denotes Projects No Included on Senate or House Authorization Bills.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 1998 FAMILY HOUSING ADD-ONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget
State and installation Project title request Change Authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska..................................
Fort Richardson....................... Neighborhood Revitalization........ 0 $9.6 $9.6
Fort Wainwright....................... Neighborhood Revitalization........ 0 8.3 8.3
Georgia.................................
Robins AFB............................ Family Housing..................... 0 5.2 5.2
Hawaii..................................
Pearl Harbor.......................... Family Housing..................... 0 17.9 17.9
Kentucky................................
Fort Campbell......................... Family Housing Improvements........ 0 8.5 8.5
Montana.................................
Malmstrom AFB......................... Military Housing................... 0 16.6 16.6
North Carolina..........................
Camp Lejeune.......................... Renovate Family Housing............ 0 2.9 2.9
South Carolina..........................
Charleston AFB........................ Improve Family Housing............. 0 14.3 14.3
Texas:
NAS Corpus Christi.................... Replace Family Housing............. 0 6.5 6.5
Lackland AFB.......................... Replace Family Housing............. 0 7.4 7.4
Washington:
NAS Whidbey Island.................... Replace Family Housing............. 0 32.3 32.3
Bangor................................ Replace Family Housing............. 0 15.7 15.7
----------------------------------
Total family housing add-ons........................................... 0 145.2 145.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, in closing, let me say I am sure there are
many good projects on this list. Many projects will serve to improve
the quality of life of our military personnel and will provide
facilities improvements that will enhance mission readiness, but the
real reason these projects are funded in this bill is that they provide
economic benefit to certain States. Even with the congressionally
mandated increases in the defense budget, military training exercises
continue to be cut, backlogs in aircraft and ship maintenance are
growing, flying-hours shortfalls still exists, military health care is
underfunded by $600 million and 11,787 service members are reportedly
on food stamps and many more are eligible for food stamps, Mr.
President. We simply have higher priorities for defense spending and
pork-barrel construction projects.
There are many stories that are illustrative of our need for spending
on priority items, and this kind of earmarking is really harming the
men and women in the military. Over the weekend, there was a story in
the Washington Post about enlisted sailors who are stationed in San
Diego who now live in Mexico. They have to drive to Mexico because
there is not affordable housing or base housing for them in San Diego,
yet, we will fund these projects that are on this list. At the same
time, there are 11,787 service members who are on food stamps and
thousands more eligible, and we will instead fund these kinds of
projects.
Mr. President, it is not an admirable practice that we are seeing
continued and even increase over the years. I intend very strongly to
urge the President of the United States to exercise the line-item veto
on some of these projects because there is no more compelling reason
for the line-item veto than some of the projects that I have talked
about today. I will be engaged in urging him to do so.
I yield the floor, but before I yield the floor, I would like to take
a look at the amendment and any other amendments that will be proposed
at this time on the bill. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
[[Page S7821]]
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, in response to Senator McCain, there are
over 891,000 men and women in uniform who serve in one of the six
Reserve organizations. They represent 38 percent of the total force.
For these Reserve forces, the President's budget request contained a
total of $173 million--less than 2 percent of the total military
construction bill allocated to the Reserve components.
More specifically, the National Guard military construction program
supports over 474,673 soldiers and airmen in communities throughout the
Nation. They constitute approximately 20 percent of our total Armed
Forces and represent all 50 States and 4 territories.
The units and the missions of the Reserve components have changed
significantly in the last 30 to 40 years. The mission and the equipment
is much more complex and requires larger working bays and parking
areas. The increased lethality and range of modern weapons restrict
indirect firing ranges and training areas and creates new requirements
necessary to ensure safety.
The Army Guard alone has more than 23,360 facilities, with a current
plant replacement value of $17.3 billion. Over 50 percent of these
facilities are inadequate by current Army criteria. There is a
construction backlog of $2.3 billion, which as a direct impact on
modernization and readiness.
The Pentagon requested only $45 million for the Army National Guard
for military construction in the fiscal year 1998 budget. There are
367,000 soldiers in the Army National Guard--$45 million does not go
very far in meeting their mission and quality of life requirements.
If the Congress did not act to provide additional military
construction funding to the Reserve components each year, these forces
would be severely handicapped as far as their ability to achieve full
operational capability and their objective readiness level. Just
because a project is for the Guard or Reserve does not mean it is not
meritorious, it signifies that the Pentagon has decided to let the
Congress foot the bill for building and maintaining the Reserve
components' infrastructure.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under a previous agreement, the Senator from
Arizona has 2 minutes, 15 seconds remaining.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I yield back the remainder of my time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has yielded back his time.
Mr. BURNS addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
Amendment No. 946
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, the amendment that is now under
consideration has been cleared on the Democratic side, and I ask that
it be accepted at this time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? If not, the question
is on agreeing to amendment No. 946.
The amendment (No. 946) was agreed to.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mrs. MURRAY. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask for third reading of the bill. Have
the yeas and nays been ordered?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas and nays have not been requested on
final passage.
Mr. BURNS. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There is a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. D'AMATO. I wonder if the Chairman of the Military Construction
Subcommittee, Senator Burns, would yield for a question.
Mr. BURNS. Certainly.
Mr. D'AMATO. I appreciate all that the chairman has done to
accommodate the specific needs of military installations in New York.
As you know, New York has been devastated by its losses from the last
two BRAC rounds. However, the one positive effect of this paring down
is that the remaining bases in New York are among the most efficient
and effective in the world. That is why these military construction
dollars are so important to New York State.
One military base of particular concern to both Senator Moynihan and
myself is Fort Drum in Watertown, NY. Fort Drum is home to the 10th
Mountain Division. The mission of the 10th Mountain Division is to
deploy rapidly anywhere in the world and be prepared to fight and win
upon arrival.
The 10th Mountain Division stands ready to depart Fort Drum and
conduct operations anywhere in the world with minimal notice. The
cornerstone to Fort Drum's preparedness is its high state of mission
readiness. This readiness is sustained through intensive training and
the most up-to-date, modern facilities.
America continually asks our soldiers around the world to respond and
they are always there for us. The 10th Mountain Division is the most
frequently deployed division in the Army. It is only fair that Congress
appropriate the necessary dollars to ensure that our troops remain the
best in the world.
Fort Drum has requested two very important projects that would
greatly enhance readiness on the base and contribute to the 10th
Mountain Division's extremely high response time. The first is an
aerial gunnery range, funded at $17.5 million in the House. The
proposed range will be an adequately sized and properly configured
aerial gunnery range for Army rotary wing and Air National Guard fixed
wing joint mission requirements. The facility and range area will
enable the Air National Guard and Fort Drum range division to employ
operations under the joint air attack team concept [JAAT] as well as
consolidate existing operations to the northeast side of Fort Drum
property for safe operations. Currently, rotary wing and fixed wing
operations are conducted on separate sites across the Fort Drum
installation.
The second project is a military training and education center,
funded at $6.9 million, to replace a number of widely scattered
temporary 50-year old, inefficient and marginal World War II wood
facilities.
The center would make a valuable contribution to improving quality of
life for soldiers, dependents and civilians at Fort Drum. Without the
center, the condition of aging facilities will become less able to
support the function and eventually continuing education opportunities
for the population of Fort Drum will be negatively impacted. Last year,
the Senate included this project in its version of the fiscal year 1997
defense authorization bill.
I would hope that the House--Senate Conference Committee would
include both of these important projects in the final conference report
for fiscal year 1998.
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, my friend and colleague, Senator
D'Amato, has clearly set out the reasons why Fort Drum needs these two
projects. They are essential to the training and readiness we and the
Army have come to expect from the 10th Mountain Division. It seems
whenever there has been a deployment in recent years, the 10th has been
part of it. I simply add my support and my hope that the gunnery range
and the training and education center will be included when the Senator
from Montana and his conferees reach an agreement on military
construction projects.
Mr. BURNS. I can assure both Senators from New York that both
projects will be given every due consideration when the conferees meet.
____________________